Table 3.
Results of exploratory factor analysis of 37 tentative items of Attachment in Healthcare Situations Survey
| Factor 1 | Factor 2 | Factor 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCP experienced as supportive and safe (SUPPORT) | |||
| My HCP* is dependable. | 0.95 | ||
| I feel sure my HCP will be there if I really need him/her. | 0.95 | ||
| If I were in pain or distressed, I think my HCP would respond in a helpful way. | 0.86 | ||
| My HCP gives me enough attention. | 0.85 | ||
| I get enough emotional support from my HCP. | 0.82 | ||
| My HCP is a comforting presence to me when I am upset. | 0.79 | ||
| I would rather not see this HCP but I feel that I have no choice. | −0.76 | ||
| My HCP is sensitive to my needs. | 0.74 | ||
| I know my HCP will understand the things that bother me. | 0.57 | ||
| My HCP helps me to look closely at frightening or troubling things that have happened to me. | 0.50 | ||
| I suspect that my HCP is not all that concerned about me. | −0.65 | ||
| When I am with my HCP, I feel that I am his/her highest priority. | 0.63 | ||
| I feel safe with my HCP. | 0.63 | ||
| I can tell that my HCP enjoys working with me. | 0.63 | ||
| I resent having to handle problems on my own when my HCP could be more helpful. | −0.59 | ||
| Seeing my HCP leaves me feeling that things will work out OK somehow. | 0.55 | ||
| My HCP treats me more like a child than an adult. | −0.52 | ||
| HCP contact experienced as aversive (AVERSE) | |||
| Sometimes I'm afraid that if I don't please my HCP s/he will not treat me as well. | 0.94 | ||
| I don't know how my HCP will react from one meeting/appointment to the next. | 0.82 | ||
| I am cautious about what I tell my HCP so that s/he will not reject me. | 0.75 | ||
| I have felt shamed or humiliated when I met with my HCP. | 0.70 | ||
| I don't like to share my feelings with my HCP. | 0.43 | ||
| It's hard for me to trust my HCP. | −0.53 | 0.44 | |
| I suspect that my HCP isn't always honest with me. | −0.48 | 0.40 | |
| It would make me feel ashamed or foolish to talk over my problems with this HCP. | 0.33 | ||
| More and closer contact with HCP wanted (WANT) | |||
| I wish I could see my HCP more often. | 0.79 | ||
| I wish there was a way I could spend more time with my HCP. | 0.79 | ||
| I don't like it when my HCP is away and I look forward to his/her return. | 0.70 | ||
| I think about calling my HCP after hours. | 0.56 | ||
| I worry about my HCP's well-being. | 0.51 | ||
| I think about being my HCP's favourite patient. | 0.50 | ||
| I wonder about my HCP's other patients. | 0.49 | ||
| I wish my HCP and I could spend more time together as friends. | 0.44 | ||
| I only feel reassured about my health when I am with my HCP.†‡ | 0.31 | ||
*In the instrument ‘HCP’ is spelled out, not abbreviated as in this table.
†This item was later removed because it reduced the internal reliability of the scale.
‡Items that do not appear in the final model: ‘I think my HCP disapproves of me’; ‘I would like my HCP to show me that s/he cares about me more’; ‘my HCP wants to know more about me than I am comfortable talking about’.
HCP, healthcare provider.