Erik Farin1, Erika Schmidt2, Lukas Gramm2. 1. Department of Quality Management and Social Medicine, University Freiburg - Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address: erik.farin@uniklinik-freiburg.de. 2. Department of Quality Management and Social Medicine, University Freiburg - Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to design and psychometrically test a patient questionnaire to capture patient communication competence in the context of patient-provider interaction (CoCo questionnaire). We also aimed to determine patient characteristics associated with competent patient behavior. METHODS: To assure content validity, we initially conducted 17 focus groups (n=97) made up of patients and providers. In the main study n=1.264 patients with chronic back pain, chronic-ischemic heart disease or breast cancer who underwent inpatient rehabilitation were surveyed at the end of rehabilitation. RESULTS: The CoCo questionnaire contains four scales (patient adherence in communication, critical and participative communication, communication about personal circumstances, active disease-related communication) and 28 items addressing competent patient behavior. We provide evidence of unidimensionality, local independence, reliability, a Rasch-Model fit, the absence of differential item functioning, and signs of construct validity. The most important correlates of communication competence are health literacy and communication self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: The CoCo questionnaire has good psychometric properties in German. Future research should examine CoCo's responsiveness and analyze criterion validity by means of observation data. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The CoCo questionnaire can be recommended for use in evaluating patient communication training programs.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to design and psychometrically test a patient questionnaire to capture patient communication competence in the context of patient-provider interaction (CoCo questionnaire). We also aimed to determine patient characteristics associated with competent patient behavior. METHODS: To assure content validity, we initially conducted 17 focus groups (n=97) made up of patients and providers. In the main study n=1.264 patients with chronic back pain, chronic-ischemic heart disease or breast cancer who underwent inpatient rehabilitation were surveyed at the end of rehabilitation. RESULTS: The CoCo questionnaire contains four scales (patient adherence in communication, critical and participative communication, communication about personal circumstances, active disease-related communication) and 28 items addressing competent patient behavior. We provide evidence of unidimensionality, local independence, reliability, a Rasch-Model fit, the absence of differential item functioning, and signs of construct validity. The most important correlates of communication competence are health literacy and communication self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: The CoCo questionnaire has good psychometric properties in German. Future research should examine CoCo's responsiveness and analyze criterion validity by means of observation data. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The CoCo questionnaire can be recommended for use in evaluating patient communication training programs.
Keywords:
Breast cancer; Chronic back pain; Chronic ischemic heart disease; Patient communication competence; Patient–provider communication; Questionnaire development
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