Subjective dimensions of patient competence: relationships with selected healthcare usage behaviors and general features of self-rated competence.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To introduce the concept of patient competence and provide additional information on the concurrent validity of a new self-rating measure of patient competence in the context of cancer employing healthcare usage behaviors and more general self-rated features of patient competence as criteria. METHODS: Based on a multi-center sample of n=536 patients with cancer, bivariate correlations and multiple regressions were computed. RESULTS: The competence subscale of striving for autonomous decisions emerged as significant, albeit weak predictor of having used professional psycho-social support (r=.31, beta=.28) and employing other complementary medicines (r=.28; B=.65) in relation to one's cancer. Problem-focused and emotion-focused competencies relate differently to different general features of self-rated competence like feeling informed and assertive or adapting well. CONCLUSION: Additional support for the concurrent validity of the new self-rating measure of patient competence in the context of cancer has been found. Viewed in perspective, this measure may therefore provide a methodological basis to examine determinants and health effects of patient competence empirically. Nevertheless, further research on the conceptualization and measurement of patient competence appears necessary. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Having available measures of patients' specific competencies in the context of cancer will help identify their strength and weaknesses in dealing with life-threatening disease and enhance their coping resources.

Author information

Author/s: Weis, Joachim (J); Giesler, Jürgen M (JM);

Affiliation: Tumor Biology Center, Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. weis(-atsign-)tumorbio.uni-freiburg.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Validation Studies

Journal: Patient education and counseling (Patient Educ Couns), published in Ireland. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Dec; vol 73 (issue 3) : pp 511-8

Dates: Created 2008/11/18; Completed 2009/02/20;

PMID: 18952394, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 3/9/2009, IMS Date: 09 Mar 2009 00:00:00)

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