A healthcare facility wanted to learn more about patient satisfaction perceptions… Recent data was compared to data prior to the introduction of new protocols. What statistical technique should be used?

Regression analysis is used to examine the relationship between one dependent variable and one or more independent variables. While it can provide insights into how different factors affect patient satisfaction, it does not specifically compare mean scores between two groups. Therefore, it is not suitable for this scenario involving direct comparisons of pre- and post-intervention satisfaction levels.

Factor analysis is a technique used to identify underlying relationships between variables and to reduce data dimensions. It is primarily used for data reduction and does not test hypotheses about mean differences between groups. Thus, it is not applicable for comparing patient satisfaction perceptions before and after the introduction of new protocols.

Chi square tests are used to examine the association between categorical variables. While it can analyze frequency data, it does not compare means between two groups, making it inappropriate for this question focused on patient satisfaction scores. Therefore, it doesn't address the need to assess differences in mean scores.