Com-On Questionnaire: Development and validation of a questionnaire for evaluating communication skills of oncologists.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to develop and validate an instrument for assessing the communication skills of oncology physicians from a patient's point of view. METHODS: A first draft of the questionnaire was compiled based on skills reflecting good physician-patient communication identified in the literature. The questionnaire was critically revised by experts to ensure the validity of its contents. The revised questionnaire was completed by a sample of 153 cancer patients. The questionnaire was developed in German and later translated into English. RESULTS: After analysis using classical test theory and an exploratory factor analysis, four different factors could be extracted. These factors were labelled setting, patient-centeredness, empathy and consulting competencies. Unsuitable items were eliminated within the analysis. All remaining items hold an appropriate degree of selectivity, item difficulty and reliability/consistency. CONCLUSION: A novel questionnaire for evaluating communication skills of physicians was developed. It contains 36 items and is named 'Com-On Questionnaire: Questionnaire for the Evaluation of Physician's Communication Skills in Oncology'. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The questionnaire is suitable for measuring both the strengths and deficits within the physician-patient communication in oncology from the patients' perspective.      «

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to develop and validate an instrument for assessing the communication skills of oncology physicians from a patient's point of view. METHODS: A first draft of the questionnaire was compiled based on skills reflecting good physician-patient communication identified in the literature. The questionnaire was critically revised by experts to ensure the validity of its contents. The revised questionnaire was completed by a sample of 153 cancer patients. The questionna...     »