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Table 3 Self-Rated Confidence Versus Adequacy of Previous Training in Handling Various Physician-Patient Communication Scenarios of New Faculty Beginning Communication Curriculum

From: Views of new internal medicine faculty of their preparedness and competence in physician-patient communication

Physician-patient communication scenario

Score, average ± SD*

Matched pairs mean difference confidence vs adequacy of previous training (95% CI)

P value

Percent variability of C explained by A

P value

Demanding patient

     

   C

6.9 ± 1.8

1.7 (1.2–2.2)

<.001

42

<.001

   A

5.2 ± 2.5

    

Overweight patient

     

   C

6.7 ± 1.9

1.9 (1.2–2.5)

<.001

23

<.001

   A

4.8 ± 2.3

    

Cancer patient

     

   C

7.6 ± 1.8

1.4 (0.7–2.0)

<.001

17

.006

   A

6.1 ± 2.4

    

Hostile spouse

     

   C

6.7 ± 1.7

2.2 (1.6–2.8)

<.001

20

<.001

   A

4.5 ± 2.4

    

Somatoform patient

     

   C

6.7 ± 1.8

1.7 (1.1–2.3)

<.001

24

<.001

   A

5.0 ± 2.5

    

Chronic pain patient

     

   C

6.2 ± 1.9

1.5 (0.8–2.1)

<.001

21

<.001

   A

4.8 ± 2.5

    

Waiting patient

     

   C

7.4 ± 1.5

2.5 (1.9–3.2)

<.001

18

.007

   A

4.9 ± 2.5

    

Patient of different culture

     

   C

7.3 ± 1.7

2.0 (1.3–2.7)

<.001

14

.024

   A

5.0 ± 2.4

    
  1. A, self-rated adequacy of previous training in handling the given physician-patient communication scenario; C, self-rated confidence in handling the given physician-patient communication scenario; CI, confidence interval; SD, standard deviation.
  2. *Ten-point Likert scale (C: 1 = not confident, 10 = very confident; A: 1 = inadequate, 10 = excellent).
  3. Wilcoxon signed rank test.
  4. Bivariate fit of self-rated confidence by self-rated adequacy of previous training.