COMMUNICATION SKILLS ASSESSMENT IN THE CLINICAL INTERVIEW OF PHYSIOTHERAPY WITH SIMULATED PATIENT AND VIDEO

INTRODUCTION: the patient simulation and video have been used by several authors as useful tools to facilitate to enhance communication skills in Physical Therapy [1, 2]. The aim of the present study is to assess basic communication skills in the clinical interview of physiotherapy's students. METHODS: The last year physiotherapy's students from Rovira i Virgili University (URV) was invited to participate in the present study during 2008 (n= 65). 20 of them satisfied the inclusion criteria. The case study case used was centred in mechanical low back pain. It was elaborated by an expert committee and the actor was trained in the case simulation by an expert in communication skills. Each student interviewed, examined and explained the treatment the simulated patient for about 20 minutes. The clinical interview was recorded with 2 cameras (Sony's Handycam (R)). Communication skills, were analized and evaluated by two independent observers through video analyzing and through the, Identificar y Comprender, Acordar y Ayudar' questionnaire (CICAA) [3]. The student learning perception was assessed by a semi-structured survey. RESULTS: The 90% of the sample were women and 10% men. Their mean age was 23 years (SD 2,62). Student's communications skills were below average, according to CICCA questionnaire score, without statistical differences between two observers. The reliability (95% CI) of each item was 0.927 (0.872-0.966) for the first observer and 0.939 (0.885-0.972) for the second one (Cronbach alpha coefficient). The level of correlation for each item, assessed through Spearman correlation coefficient, related to the total (29 items) was predominantly acceptable for both observers. Six items out of 29 were not acceptable for observer one and nine out of 29 were no acceptable for the second observer. Students stated that they learned communication skills during their university education (65%). CONCLUSION: The combination of the simulated patient, video watching and CICAA questionnaire is useful for communication skills assessment in the clinical interview of physiotherapy. Communication skills of physiotherapy students were below the average. Students' perception pointed out that we must include more specific methods in order to stress practical communication skills training.