OBJECTIVES: Dialysis patients have a chronic disease. For these patients, process characteristics of their treatment are important. Therefore this study aimed at the development and testing of a questionnaire to assess the quality of care in Dutch dialysis centres from the patient's perspective: the Quality of Care in Dialysis centres Questionnaire (QCDQ). METHODS: In a literature study, possible sets of dimensions were identified. Four focus group sessions were organized, with 27 patients in total. The results from the focus groups were transformed into a 68-item test version of the QCDQ. This test version was discussed with four nephrologists and seven patients. A visual analogue scale (VAS) was added to determine overall satisfaction. The test version was sent to 300 patients in a postal setting. Factor analysis was applied and item reductions were conducted. The resulting QCDQ was subsequently distributed in ten dialysis centres in order to test its performance. RESULTS: Statistical analyses of the test version were based on 140 out of 162 returned questionnaires. The results from the factor analysis confirmed the use of the set of dimensions with the dimensions: doctors, nurses, other staff members, and facilities. After item reduction 36 items and the VAS remained. Each dimension consists of eight specific items and one item about the overall satisfaction with that dimension. Statistical analyses of this 36-item questionnaire were based on 331 out 511 returned questionnaires. The QCDQ is an instrument that is content valid, construct valid and reliable (α= 0.91). CONCLUSIONS: The QCDQ can be used in Dutch dialysis centres. Further research will be conducted to establish preference weights per dimension on the basis of the VAS scores. These preference weights can be applied in benchmark procedures to assess the quality of care in a dialysis centre