Measuring social aspects in the physician/patient relationship.

This study develops a scale assessing social aspects of physician/patient relationships across multiple samples. The 6-item Social Aspects of Professional Service Relationships (SAPSR) scale demonstrates face validity through correspondence with theoretical constructs--including functional quality, communal behaviors, and affective care--and elements identified in qualitative interviews. The scale performs well in three separate samples. Relationships between SAPSR and re-patronization intentions and recommendation intentions that are partially mediated by satisfaction suggest the predictive validity and potential managerial utility of the scale.