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. 2003 Fall;25(1):55–66.

Table 1. CAHPS® Variables Used to Form Composite Measures: 1998.

Variable Survey Items
Global Ratings
  • How would you rate your personal doctor or nurse now? (Q13)

  • How would you rate the specialist you saw most often in the last 6 months, including a personal doctor if he or she is a specialist? (Q17)

  • How would you rate all the health care you got in the last 6 months from all doctors and other health providers? (Q36)

  • How would you rate all your experience with your Medicare health plan? (Q56)

Composite Rating of Health Plan Information and Customer Service
  • In the last 6 months, how much of a problem, if any, was it to find or understand information in the written materials? (Q47)

  • In the last 6 months, how much of a problem, if any, was it to get the help you needed when you called customer service? (Q49)

Composite Rating of Getting Needed Care
  • With the choices (product name) gave you, how much of a problem, if any, was it to get a personal doctor or nurse you are happy with? (Q6)

  • In the last 6 months, how much of a problem, if any, was it to get a referral to a specialist that you needed to see? (Q15)

  • In the last 6 months, how much of a problem, if any, was it to get the care you or a doctor believed necessary? (Q27)

  • In the last 6 months, how much of a problem, if any, were delays in health care while you waited for approval from your health plan? (Q28)

Composite Rating of Getting Needed Care
  • In the last 6 months, when you called during regular office hours, how often did you get the help or advice you needed? (Q20)

  • In the last 6 months, when you needed regular or routine health care, how often did you get an appointment as soon as you wanted? (Q22)

  • In the last 6 months, when you needed care right away for an illness or injury, how often did you get care as soon as you wanted? (Q24)

  • In the last 6 months, how often did you wait in the doctor's office or clinic more than 15 minutes past your appointment time to see the person you went to see? (Q29)

Composite Rating of Getting Courtesy and Respect of Doctor's Office Staff
  • In the last 6 months, how often did office staff at a doctor's office or clinic treat you with courtesy and respect? (Q30)

  • In the last 6 months, how often were office staff at a doctor's office or clinic as helpful as you though they should be? (Q31)

  • In the last 6 months, how often did doctors or other health providers listen carefully to you? (Q32)

Composite Rating of Communication with Providers
  • In the last 6 months, how often did doctors or other health providers explain things in a way you could understand? (Q32)

  • In the last 6 months, how often did doctors or other health providers show respect for what you had to say? (Q34)

  • In the last 6 months, how often did doctors or other health providers spend enough time with you? (Q35)

Composite Rating of Special Services
  • In the last 6 months, how much of a problem, if any, was it to get the special medical equipment you needed through your Medicare health plan? (Q38)

  • In the last 6 months, how much of a problem, if any, was it to get the special therapy you needed through your Medicare health plan? (Q40)

  • In the last 6 months, how much of a problem, if any, was it to get the care or assistance you needed through your Medicare health plan? (Q42)

Composite Rating of Courtesy and Respect of Office Staff
  • In the last 6 months, how often did office staff at a doctor's office or clinic treat you with courtesy and respect? (Q30)

  • In the last 6 months, how often were office staff at a doctor's office or clinic as helpful as you though they should be? (Q31)

Rating of Problems Getting Prescription Medications from Health Plan
  • In the last 6 months, how much of a problem, if any, was it to get your prescription medicine from your Medicare health plan? (Q44)

How often get needed prescription medications
  • In the last 6 months, how often did you get the prescription medicine you need through your health plan? (Q45)

Was Complaint Settled to Your Satisfaction
  • Was your complaint settled to your satisfaction? (Q53)

Did Plan Provide all the Equipment and Services Needed
  • In the last 6 months, did your Medicare plan provide all the help, equipment and services you thought you needed to help you have a good quality of life? (Q71)

NOTE: CAHPS® is Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Study.

SOURCE: CAHPS® Adult Core Questionnaire, October 1998.