The psychometric properties of the instrument
have been questioned, with some authors suggesting
adaptation of the items depending on the
sector the instrument is used27 and others viewing
the items as just one dimension rather than
five.8 In addition, some authors stress the
attention to the risk of patients overstating their
expectations.28 However, the findings by Parasuraman
et al.5,11 have found support in the
research, so SERVQUAL remains a valuable
tool for assessing quality of health care services.
SERVQUAL constitutes a powerful tool, as it
allows one not only to estimate the overall level
of satisfaction but also to identify dimensions
where experience transcends expectations (an
excellent service) and dimensions where experience
falls short of the expectations. By being
able to identify gaps, it is possible to reveal the
areas where improvements can be made to raise
the level of patients satisfaction.