Table 2 Descriptive statistics of the 12 self-efficacy items (range, 1–10). Distribution of answers according to group, gender, age, profession (nurses and nursing assistants merged), seniority, and respondents marking highest possible score. The trained group had formerly participated in the communication skills training course conducted by The Danish Medical Association as opposed to the not trained group who had not participated in the communication skills training course
Item How certain are you that you are able to successfully … | Mean total (SD) | Trained group (SD) | Not trained group (SD) | Gender Male (n = 34) Female (n = 161) | Age (year) 21- (n = 14) 31- (n = 52) 41- (n = 67) 51- (n = 58) 61- (n = 4) | Profession Physicians (n = 47) Nurses (n = 145) Others (n = 3) | Seniority (year) < ½ (n = 17) ½-1 (n = 5) 1–2 (n = 15) 2–5 (n = 61) 5–10 (n = 46) >10 (n = 51) | Respondents marking highest possible score % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1: …identify the issues the patient wishes to address during the conversation? | 8.07 (1.34) | 8.21 (1.44) | 7.93 (1.23) | 8.39 8.01 | 6.79 7.89 8.28 8.23 9.50 | 8.04 8.12 6.75 | 7.12 8.50 7.73 8.03 8.33 8.27 | 14b |
2: …make an agenda/plan for the conversation with the patient? | 7.89 (1.59) | 8.22 (1.55) | 7.64 (1.60) | 8.39 7.88 | 6.31 7.87 8.23 8.06 9.25 | 8.04 8.00 6.00 | 6.47 8.25 8.23 7.96 8.11 8.27 | 15b |
3: …urge the patient to expand on his or her problems/worries? | 8.39 (1.37) | 8.47 (1.48) | 8.31 (1.26) | 8.35 8.39 | 7.43 8.22 8.46 8.62 9.75 | 8.26 8.47 7.00 | 7.53 8.75 8.13 8.32 8.51 8.69 | 21 |
4: a …listen attentively without interrupting or changing of focus? | 8.41 (1.43) | 8.51 (1.42) | 8.37 (1.45) | 8.19 8.50 | 8.21 8.20 8.49 8.63 9.50 | 8.09 8.60 7.50 | 7.00 9.25 8.40 8.36 8.60 8.88 | 21 |
5: …encourage the patient to express thoughts and feelings? | 8.27 (1.47) | 8.33 (1.67) | 8.28 (1.26) | 8.06 8.36 | 7.93 7.98 8.48 8.45 9.50 | 7.98 8.47 6.50 | 7.41 9.00 7.87 8.08 8.42 8.88 | 16b |
6: …structure the conversation with the patient? | 8.05 (1.44) | 8.24 (1.40) | 7.88 (1.46) | 8.52 7.99 | 6.86 8.00 8.29 8.13 9.25 | 8.32 8.05 6.25 | 7.06 8.75 7.87 8.07 8.17 8.37 | 14b |
7: …demonstrate appropriate non-verbal behavior (eye contact, facial expression, placement, posture, and voicing)? | 8.58 (1.18) | 8.71 (1.21) | 8.45 (1.14) | 8.52 8.59 | 8.64 8.54 8.54 8.60 9.25 | 8.47 8.62 8.50 | 8.35 8.75 8.73 8.42 8.69 8.67 | 23 |
8: …show empathy (acknowledge the patient’s views and feelings)? | 8.87 (1.01) | 8.92 (1.08) | 8.83 (0.93) | 8.90 8.87 | 9.00 8.83 8.91 8.79 9.50 | 8.79 8.91 8.75 | 8.71 8.75 9.07 8.81 8.89 8.94 | 28 |
9: …clarify what the patient knows in order to communicate the right amount of information? | 8.35 (1.22) | 8.44 (1.25) | 8.26 (1.20) | 8.45 8.33 | 7.64 8.11 8.53 8.49 9.25 | 8.28 8.42 6.75 | 7.44 8.50 8.13 8.37 8.46 8.57 | 16b |
10: …check patient’s understanding of the information given? | 8.45 (1.25) | 8.62 (1.24) | 8.32 (1.24) | 8.42 8.48 | 7.86 8.19 8.68 8.60 9.25 | 8.32 8.55 7.25 | 7.76 8.75 8.40 8.32 8.54 8.82 | 19b |
11: …make a plan based on shared decisions between you and the patient? | 8.49 (1.24) | 8.61 (1.24) | 8.37 (1.24) | 8.81 8.43 | 7.79 8.39 8.59 8.59 9.50 | 8.66 8.47 7.25 | 7.82 8.75 8.53 8.35 8.60 8.76 | 19b |
12: …close the conversation by assuring, that the patient’s questions have been answered? | 8.79 (1.18) | 8.84 (1.20) | 8.60 (1.16) | 9.10 8.65 | 8.07 8.74 8.77 8.77 9.25 | 8.81 8.68 9.00 | 8.18 9.00 8.87 8.69 8.83 8.78 | 27 |
Sum score (mean) | 100.61 (8.38) | 102.12 (8.51) | 99.24 (8.27) |