New directions in measuring family-centred service: the updated measure of processes of care (MPOC 2.0)

PURPOSE: To develop an updated Measure of Processes of Care assessing parent/caregiver perceptions of the family-centredness of service providers' behaviour. METHOD: Researchers and parent partners conducted a two-phase project involving (i) tool development, and (ii) field testing to determine psychometric properties. Sixty-five parents of children with disabilities participated in focus groups to discuss their wants and hopes for service delivery; six parents reviewed the measure for comprehensibility and clarity; and 10 parents and 10 service providers participated in a modified Delphi procedure to establish consensus about item wording. In the field testing phase, 58 parents were involved in the assessment of test-retest reliability, and 273 parents completed construct validity measures. MPOC 2.0 scales were determined through factor analysis. Internal consistency and construct validity hypotheses were examined. RESULTS: The resulting scales (Supportive and Collaborative Communication, Availability of Care, Family Well-being, and Coordinated Care) had high internal consistencies, good to excellent test-retest reliabilities, and moderate to strong correlations with construct validation measures. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison to the original 30-year-old MPOC-20, the new measure highlights the importance of communication as a relational process involving reciprocal transactions between parents and service providers. It also highlights family well-being, service availability, and coordination of care.