Reliability and validity of the ;Turkish version of the consultation and relational empathy measure

Objective: One of the significant factors to improve the patient-physician relationship is the physician's ability to empathize with the patient. Empathic communication between the physician and the patient increases the patient satisfaction and has a positive effect on the health status of the patient. There are no validated patient-rated empathy measures available in Turkey. The objective of this study is to perform the adaption of Consultation and Relational Empathy Measure (CARE) to Turkish and investigate the validity and reliability of applicant in primary care. Materials and Methods: This is a methodological study. The Turkish version is prepared by translating and retranslating The Consultation and Relational Empathy Measure. The validity and reliability study was completed 237 people who applied to 17 family health centers in Adana city center. Sociodemographic data form, EUROPEP Instrument and CARE Measure were administered as data collection tools. Reliability of the scale was assessed by internal consistency method; validity is tested with face validity, construct validity and concurrent validity Resuts: CARE Measure in which physician empathy is rated by the patient contains 10 items. Each item is evaluated between 1-5 points. Face validity were supported by a low number of 'does not apply' responses (range 1,26%-3,79%). Factor analysis showed one-dimensional structure for the measure. The concurrent validity is evaluated by the correlation of EUROPEP Instrument. A high and statistically significant correlation was found between the scales. Cronbach alpha internal consistency coefficient was found to be 0.943. Corrected item total correlations were at a minimum of 0.726. Conclusion: According to these values The Turkish version of CARE Measure, which is translated into various languages such as German, Chinese, Japanese, Dutch and Swedish, is a valid and reliable measurement tool that can be used in primary care. Keywords: Empathy, Validity and reliability, Turkish, Primary care, CARE Measure