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Table 2 Comparison of the students’ self-assessed communication skills by category

From: The influence of a patient counseling training session on pharmacy students’ self-perceived communication skills, confidence levels, and attitudes about communication skills training

Category and contentsa

Pre

(n = 60)

mean (SD)

Post

(n = 60)

mean (SD)

t

p-value

Initiating the session

 Prepare yourself for the consultation

4.45 (1.48)

5.60 (0.99)

−5.556

< 0.001

 Introduce yourself and welcome the patient

4.92 (1.45)

5.77 (1.03)

−4.375

< 0.001

 Establish an initial rapport with the patient

4.68 (1.47)

5.48 (1.08)

−3.892

< 0.001

 Identify the reason for the consultation

4.73 (1.33)

5.60 (1.01)

−4.541

< 0.001

Gathering information

 Explore the patient’s issues through effective questioning and listening skills

4.82 (1.13)

5.53 (0.91)

−4.441

< 0.001

 Obtain the patient’s perspective

4.77 (1.11)

5.42 (1.01)

−3.660

0.001

 Use concise, easily understood questions and comments and avoid or adequately explain jargon

4.55 (1.24)

5.53 (1.16)

−5.073

< 0.001

Explanation and planning

 Provide the correct type of information in an appropriate manner suitable for the patient

4.32 (1.02)

5.48 (0.89)

−7.000

< 0.001

 Aid accurate recall and understanding

4.52 (1.08)

5.58 (0.87)

−6.231

< 0.001

 Achieve a shared understanding, incorporating the patient’s perspective

4.55 (0.98)

5.38 (0.88)

−5.275

< 0.001

 Develop an action plan that involves shared decision-making

4.30 (1.23)

5.15 (0.97)

−4.703

< 0.001

Providing structure to the consultation

 Agree with the agenda

4.67 (1.20)

5.63 (0.88)

−5.296

< 0.001

 Summarize and recall throughout the consultation to check understanding

4.75 (1.37)

5.77 (0.85)

−5.131

< 0.001

 Use signposts and transitional statements to progress from one part of the consultation to the next

4.23 (1.23)

5.22 (1.06)

−5.765

< 0.001

 Apply a logical structure

4.20 (1.25)

5.25 (1.14)

−5.730

< 0.001

 Adhere to the time limit

4.65 (1.23)

5.18 (1.00)

−2.862

0.006

Building a relationship

 Continue to build rapport throughout the consultation

4.90 (1.31)

5.53 (0.98)

−3.332

0.001

 Show empathy

5.15 (1.34)

5.58 (1.12)

−2.327

0.023

 Share in the discussion as a partnership

4.63 (1.30)

5.32 (1.05)

−3.637

0.001

 Use open body language and appropriate eye contact

4.53 (1.35)

5.47 (1.03)

−5.736

< 0.001

Closing the session

 Summarize the key ideas

4.83 (1.03)

5.33 (1.07)

−2.774

0.007

 Make a final contract with the patient to agree with the action plan

4.65 (0.95)

5.37 (0.94)

−4.541

< 0.001

 Establish contingency plans in case the plan does not proceed as designed (safety-netting)

4.20 (1.30)

5.22 (1.04)

−4.859

< 0.001

 Asks if the patient has any questions or other items they would like to discuss

5.40 (1.30)

5.98 (0.93)

−3.014

0.004

  1. SD standard deviation
  2. a7–point Likert scale for all items, pre and post (1 = very strongly disagree; 7 = very strongly agree)