Table 1 Items related to nonverbal and verbal communication delineated for the three groups and investigation of possible significant group differences
Items | Medical student (groups 1) | Tutor (group 2) | Simulated patient (group 3) | Group difference | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The student … | M | SD | M | SD | M | SD | p | Scheffé |
had eye contact | 4.54 | 0.90 | 4.10 | 0.70 | 4.88 | 0.35 | > .05 | - |
had a straight posture to signal that the issue is serious | 4.38 | 0.94 | 4.05 | 0.81 | 4.75 | 0.71 | > .05 | - |
used non-verbal cues, and used them deliberately | 4.41 | 0.77 | 3.90 | 0.83 | 4.88 | 0.35 | = .029 = .010 | 1-2 2-3 |
delivered relevant information in an understandable way | 4.71 | 0.69 | 4.14 | 0.85 | 4.75 | 0.46 | = .005 | 1-2 |
recognised the patient’s feelings based on nonverbal cues | 4.20 | 0.86 | 3.76 | 1.09 | 4.63 | 0.52 | > .05 | |
responded adequately to patient’s nonverbal and verbal cues | 4.11 | 0.81 | 3.86 | 0.85 | 4.75 | 0.46 | = .025 | 2-3 |
adapted their tone of voice appropriately to the situation | 4.53 | 0.70 | 4.00 | 0.71 | 4.63 | 0.52 | = .008 | 1-2 |
used their facial expressions adequately | 4.28 | 0.86 | 3.95 | 0.81 | 4.88 | 0.35 | = .024 | 2-3 |
used their gestures adequately | 3.79 | 1.11 | 3.57 | 1.21 | 4.88 | 0.35 | = .015 = .027 | 1-3 2-3 |
was distracted or preoccupied with other things | 1.54 | 1.11 | 1.43 | 0.81 | 1.0 | 0.0 | > .05 | - |