Table 1.

Factor Loadings for Two and Four-Factor Data Characteristics Models

	Two-factor solution		Four-factor solution
Questionnaire Item*	1†	2††	1†	2‡	3‡‡	4e
The clinical data in HR ’99 apply to the level in the organization at which I work	−.911	−.124	−.865	−.038	−.089	.020
The clinical data in HR ’99 are relevant to my work	−.835	.115	−.810	−.031	.066	.173
The clinical data in HR ’99 are applicable to me and my day to day work	−.631	.268	−.696	.220	.154	−.102
It is clear from the clinical data in HR ’99 where we have opportunities for improvement	−.060	.743	−.079	.660	.039	.123
The clinical data in HR ’99 provide insufficient direction for change. (reversed)	.128	.615	.116	.663	−.046	.030
The clinical data in HR ’99 provide meaningful hospital peer group comparison information	−.081	.685	−.108	.656	.043	.045
The clinical data in HR ’99 provide direction about actions we can take in order to bring about improvement	−.064	.695	−.117	.627	.165	−.029
The clinical data in HR ’99 yielded results at a level that is impractical for me. (reversed)	−.202	.567	−.214	.488	.022	.121
The Clinical Utilization & Outcomes (clinical) data in HR ’99 were collected and reported in a timely fashion	.017	.521	−.013	−.095	.866	.118
By the time we received the clinical data in HR ’99, they were outdated. (reversed)	.052	.392	−.007	.105	.468	−.046
The clinical data in HR ’99 were provided by a credible source	−.256	.374	−.167	.024	−.113	.657
The clinical data in HR ’99 are believable	−.022	.688	.063	.265	.048	.628
The clinical data in HR ’99 accurately describe one aspect of hospital performance	−.033	.532	.029	.023	.201	.562

^*Note that 2 of the 15 items had complex loadings and were therefore removed from the factor analysis, leaving 13 items in this table. In order to have a sufficient sample, EFA (Explanatory Factor Analysis) was performed using a second sample of hospital managers who responded to the same items on a similar questionnaire. Accordingly, n=218 for the EFA

^†Items relate to data relevance

^††Items relate to overall data quality issues (including actionability, timeliness, and believability)

^‡Items relate to actionability or, the degree to which clinical data provide direction for how to bring about improvement

^‡‡Items relate to data timeliness

^eItems relate to believability/credibility of the data