Notes Table 1. Example of Computing Item and Composite Percent Positive Scores

2010 User Comparative Database Report

Four items measuring "Overall Perceptions of Patient Safety"For positively worded items, count the # of "Strongly agree" or "Agree" responses
 
For negatively worded items, count the # of "Strongly disagree" or "Disagree" responses
 
Total # of responses to the itemPercent Positive response on item
Item A15-positively worded    
"Patient safety is never sacrificed to get more work done"120NA*260120/260=46%
Item A18-positively worded    
"Our procedures and systems are good at preventing errors from happening"130NA*250130/250=52%
Item A10-negatively worded    
"It is just by chance that more serious mistakes don't happen around here"NA*110240110/240=46%
Item A17-negatively worded    
"We have patient safety problems in this unit"NA*140250140/250=56%

* NA = Not applicable
Composite Score % Positive = (46% + 52% + 46% + 56%) / 4 = 50%

Return to Document

Page last reviewed March 2010
Internet Citation: Notes Table 1. Example of Computing Item and Composite Percent Positive Scores: 2010 User Comparative Database Report. March 2010. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. https://archive.ahrq.gov/professionals/quality-patient-safety/patientsafetyculture/hospital/2010/notestab1.html