An instrument to evaluate primary health care from the population perspective

Objective. To reduce, translate, and adapt transculturally, the short version of the PCAT questionnaire for users (PCAT Customer client version), in order to achieve an abbreviated version of the original instrument in Catalan and Castilian that is conceptually similar to the English original, culturally adequate and viable for use among the Spanish population, and useful for inclusion in the health surveys. Design. Translation and adaptation of one questionnaire. Three steps were followed: a) question selection; b) transcultural adaptation of the selected questions, by means of direct translations to Castilian and Catalan with subsequent re-translation to English; c) clarity, acceptability, and familiarity with content of the 2 pretest questionnaire versions were evaluated through cognitive interviews of persons with different profiles in the targeted population. Results. Fifteen questions were selected for the adult version and 24 for the < 15 year-old version. These facilitated the identification of a primary health care provider and the collection of information on the dimensions of first contact, continuity of care, comprehensiveness of care and coordination. Conclusions. It is hoped that these instruments will be useful when included in the questionnaires of health surveys throughout Spain. The items selected facilitate evaluation of the degree to which primary health care succeeds as the first user contact with health services, maintains continuity of attention, coordinates and provides services, making them available when necessary. Furthermore, cultural competence will be evaluated.