Translating and validating a Japanese version of the Patient Care Ownership Scale: a multicenter cross-sectional study

Background Patient care ownership (PCO) is an essential component in medical professionalism and is crucial for delivering high-quality care. The 15-item PCO Scale (PCOS) is a validated questionnaire for quantifying PCO in residents; however, no corresponding tool for assessing PCO in Japan exists. This study aimed to develop a Japanese version of the PCOS (J-PCOS) and validate it among Japanese medical trainees. Methods We performed a multicenter cross-sectional survey to test the validity and reliability of the J-PCOS. The study sample was trainees of postgraduate years 1-5 in Japan. The participants completed the J-PCOS questionnaire. Construct validity was assessed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Internal consistency reliability was examined by calculating Cronbach's alpha coefficients and inter-item correlations. Results During the survey period, 437 trainees at 48 hospitals completed the questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis of the J-PCOS extracted four factors: assertiveness, sense of ownership, diligence, and being the "go-to" person. The second factor had not been identified in the original PCOS, which may be related to a unique cultural feature of Japan, namely, a historical code of personal conduct. Confirmatory factor analysis supported this four-factor model, revealing good model fit indices. The analysis results of Cronbach's alpha coefficients and inter-item correlations indicated adequate internal consistency reliability. Conclusions We developed the J-PCOS and examined its validity and reliability. This tool can be used in studies on postgraduate medical education. Further studies should confirm its robustness and usefulness for improving PCO.