Table 4 Four factors with corresponding items

Factor 1 - PERCEIVED OUTCOMES (α = 0.758)

5. Learning communication skills has helped or will help me respect patients

9. Learning communication skills has helped or will help facilitate my team-working skills

10. Learning communication skills has improved (or will improve) my ability to communicate with patients

14. Learning communication skills has helped or will help me respect my colleagues

16. Learning communication skills has helped or will help me recognise patients’ rights regarding confidentiality and informed consent

Factor 2 - POSITIVE ATTITUDES TOWARDS CL (α = 0.743)

4. Developing my communication skills is just as important as developing my knowledge of medicine

6.^a I haven’t got time to learn communication skills

7. Learning communication skills is interesting

12. Learning communication skills is fun

18. When applying for medicine, I thought it was a really good idea to learn communication skills

22.^a My ability to pass exams will get me through medical school rather than my ability to communicate

Factor 3 - NEGATIVE ATTITUDES TOWARDS CL (α = 0.557)

11.^a Communication skills teaching states the obvious and then complicates it

13.^a Learning communication skills is too easy

17.^a Communication skills teaching would have a better image if it sounded more like a science subject

25. Learning communication skills is important because my ability to communicate is a lifelong skill

26.^a Communication skills learning should be left to psychology students, not medical students

Factor 4 - MOTIVATION (α = 0.535)

1. In order to be a good doctor I must have good communication skills

3.^a Nobody is going to fail their medical degree for having poor communication skills

19.^a I don’t need good communication skills to be a doctor