Self-assessment of intercultural communication skills: a survey of physicians and medical students in Geneva, Switzerland

Table 2 Loadings from the factor analysis of 14 self-assessment items.

	Factors
Self-assessment item	1	2	3
1) Obtain a medical history that is relevant to the patient's complaint	0.83
2) Perform a clinical examination that is targeted at the patient's chief complaint	0.72		0.39
3) Obtain a psychosocial history from the patient	0.67	0.33
4) Announce bad news (e.g., an unfavorable prognosis)	0.61	0.32
5) Make sure that an illiterate patient understands the treatment of his chronic disease (e.g., hypertension, depression, etc.)	0.52	0.43
6) Explain the reason for refusing an unjustified treatment or investigation to patient who requests it	0.52
7) Discuss advantages and risks of unconventional therapies with a patient who uses them		0.48
8) Discuss a patient's religious preferences and constraints regarding his treatment		0.73
9) Communicate the importance of medical treatment to a patient who believes that his illness is due to supernatural causes		0.65
10) Explore the migratory trajectory and possible traumatic experiences of an asylum seeker		0.68
11) Work effectively with a professional interpreter			0.65
12) Orient an immigrant patient without papers toward appropriate medical and social services		0.47	0.41
13) Perform a physical examination of a Muslim woman who wears a veil			0.79
14) Ask questions and give information to the husband of a patient, if she requests it			0.76

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