Table 4 Descriptive statistics of items and internal consistency of scales (n = 1993)
1. Feeling understood and supported by healthcare providers – Alpha = 0.91 (N = 1895) | |||||
Mean (sd) | Floor/ceiling effects | Item-total correlation | Item-remainder correlation | Alpha if item is deleted | |
I have at least one healthcare provider who … | 3.0 | Ceiling | 0.88 | 0.77 | 0.89 |
I have at least one healthcare provider I can … | 3.0 | No | 0.90 | 0.82 | 0.87 |
I have the healthcare providers I need … | 2.9 | No | 0.85 | 0.73 | 0.90 |
I can rely on at least one … | 3.0 | No | 0.92 | 0.85 | 0.86 |
2. Having sufficient information to manage my health – Alpha = 0.89 (N = 1895) | |||||
I feel I have good information about health … | 3.0 | No | 0.82 | 0.67 | 0.89 |
I have enough information to help me deal … | 3.0 | No | 0.88 | 0.79 | 0.85 |
I am sure I have all the information I … | 2.8 | No | 0.89 | 0.79 | 0.85 |
I have all the information I need to … | 2.9 | No | 0.89 | 0.80 | 0.85 |
3. Actively managing my health – Alpha = 0.86 (N = 1897) | |||||
I spend quite a lot of time actively managing … | 2.6 | No | 0.72 | 0.56 | 0.86 |
I make plans for what I need to do to be … | 2.9 | No | 0.83 | 0.72 | 0.82 |
Despite other things in my life, I make time … | 2.8 | No | 0.84 | 0.74 | 0.81 |
I set my own goals about health and fitness … | 3.0 | No | 0.75 | 0.60 | 0.85 |
There are things that I do regularly … | 2.9 | No | 0.86 | 0.77 | 0.81 |
4. Social support for health – Alpha = 0.86 (N = 1913) | |||||
I can get access to several people who … | 2.9 | No | 0.84 | 0.74 | 0.82 |
When I feel ill, the people around me really … | 2.7 | No | 0.75 | 0.60 | 0.86 |
If I need help, I have plenty of people I.. | 2.9 | No | 0.87 | 0.78 | 0.81 |
I have at least one person … . | 3.1 | Ceiling | 0.72 | 0.56 | 0.87 |
I have strong support from … | 2.9 | Ceiling | 0.85 | 0.76 | 0.82 |
5. Appraisal of health information– Alpha = 0.83 (N = 1898) | |||||
I compare health information from different … | 2.7 | No | 0.80 | 0.67 | 0.78 |
When I see new information about health, I … | 2.6 | No | 0.79 | 0.65 | 0.79 |
I always compare health information from … | 2.6 | No | 0.86 | 0.77 | 0.75 |
I know how to find out if the health … | 2.8 | No | 0.69 | 0.50 | 0.83 |
I ask healthcare providers about the quality … | 2.5 | No | 0.72 | 0.55 | 0.82 |
6. Ability to actively engage with healthcare providers– Alpha = 0.94 (N = 1882) | |||||
Make sure that healthcare providers understand.. | 3.9 | No | 0.87 | 0.79 | 0.93 |
Feel able to discuss your health concerns... | 4.0 | Ceiling | 0.91 | 0.85 | 0.92 |
Have good discussions about your health … | 4.0 | Ceiling | 0.88 | 0.82 | 0.92 |
Discuss things with healthcare providers … | 4.0 | Ceiling | 0.89 | 0.83 | 0.92 |
Ask healthcare providers to get … | 4.0 | Ceiling | 0.90 | 0.85 | 0.92 |
7. Navigating the healthcare system– Alpha = 0.93 (N = 1875) | |||||
Find the right healthcare... | 3.9 | Ceiling | 0.85 | 0.78 | 0.92 |
Get to see the healthcare provider you need to.. | 4.0 | Ceiling | 0.83 | 0.75 | 0.92 |
Decide which health care provider you need … | 3.9 | Ceiling | 0.89 | 0.83 | 0.91 |
Make sure you find the right place to get … | 4.0 | Ceiling | 0.89 | 0.83 | 0.91 |
Find out what healthcare services you are … | 3.6 | No | 0.82 | 0.74 | 0.92 |
Work out what is the best care for you … | 3.8 | No | 0.87 | 0.80 | 0.91 |
8. Ability to find good health information– Alpha = 0.93 (N = 1881) | |||||
Find information about health problems … | 4.0 | Ceiling | 0.88 | 0.82 | 0.92 |
Find health information from several … | 3.9 | Ceiling | 0.91 | 0.86 | 0.91 |
Get information about health so you are … | 3.9 | No | 0.89 | 0.82 | 0.92 |
Get health information in words you … | 4.1 | Ceiling | 0.84 | 0.75 | 0.93 |
Get health information by yourself … | 3.9 | Ceiling | 0.90 | 0.85 | 0.91 |
9. Understanding health information well enough to know what to do– Alpha = 0.91 (N = 1884) | |||||
Confidently fill medical forms in the correct … | 4.0 | Ceiling | 0.86 | 0.78 | 0.88 |
Accurately follow the instructions from … | 4.0 | Ceiling | 0.78 | 0.66 | 0.91 |
Read and understand written health … | 4.0 | Ceiling | 0.87 | 0.79 | 0.88 |
Read and understand all the information on … | 4.0 | Ceiling | 0.85 | 0.77 | 0.89 |
Understand what healthcare providers are … | 4.1 | Ceiling | 0.90 | 0.84 | 0.87 |