Scale of Health-Based Relationship Quality (H-Rq): Development, Validity, and Reliability

The aim of this study is to develop a measurement scale of health-based relationship quality (H-RQ) for doctor-patient-based services in Turkey. Four steps in the scale development procedure were applied: developing initial statements, administrating purifying measures, data collection, and evaluating the validity and reliability of the scale. The data were collected from a convenience sample (1179) of patients at private hospitals (746) and the largest dental hospital (433) owned by the state in Eskisehir, Turkey. Both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to test validity and reliability of the scale. The results of EFA and CFA indicated the satisfactory fit values about validity and reliability. The results of the study revealed six dimensions, which are: ‘satisfaction’, ‘recognition and affinity’, ‘informing’, ‘emphatic customization’, ‘trust, and ‘reciprocity’. The study has significant implications as to how well dentists and health managers design relationship strategies.