Psychometric evaluation of the patient satisfaction with logistical aspects of navigation (PSN-L) scale using item response theory.

BACKGROUND: Patient navigation--the provision of logistical, educational, and emotional support needed to help patients "navigate around" barriers to high-quality cancer treatment offers promise. No patient-reported outcome measures currently exist that assess patient navigation from the patient's perspective. We use a partial independence item response theory model to report on the psychometric properties of the Patient Satisfaction with Navigation, Logistical measure developed for this purpose. METHODS: We used data from an ethnically diverse sample (n = 1873) from the National Cancer Institute Patient Navigation Research Program. We included individuals with the presence of an abnormal breast, cervical, colorectal, or prostate cancer finding. RESULTS: The partial independence item response theory model fit well. Results indicated that scores derived from responses provide extremely precise and reliable measurement between -2.5 SD below and 2 SD above the mean and acceptably precise and reliable measurement across nearly the entire range. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide evidence in support of the Patient Satisfaction with Navigation, Logistical. Scale users should utilize 1 of the 2 described methods to create scores.