Table 4 The 25 individual communication skills and its association with the sociodemographic variables

1. I greet and welcome the patient as soon as they enter the clinic.

2. I make a warm smile when the patient comes into the clinic.

3. I leave whatever makes me busy in my hands when the patient come in the clinic.

4. I make eye contact with the patients whenever I talk to them.

5. I discuss the treatment plan thoroughly and provide the treatment options to my patients.

6. My decision to communicate with the patient is not based on their appearance and behavior.

7. I do not start thinking about my next question when listening to the patient’s answers.

8. I do not interrupt the patient if I disagree with a statement they have made.

9. I do not lose interest easily in conversations because most patients have nothing interesting to say.

10. I do not interrupt my patient when I have a contribution to make regarding the ongoing discussion.

11. I do not finish patient’s sentences for them when they pause and I know what they are going to say.

12. Many patients do not call me back to clarify my advice and recommendations or tell me in the next visit that they didn’t understand my advices.

13. I do not tend to say what I think, without worrying about how the patient perceives what I am saying.

14. I do not assume that I understand patients’ feelings and emotions without telling them.

15. I do not sit and listen to my patients with my arms and legs folded in front of me.

16. I do not use medical terms when discussing the diagnosis and the treatment with the patient.

17. I do not become impatient with patients who do not express their symptoms or emotions clearly.

18. I use open ended questions that cannot be answered with a simple Yes or No when talking to my patients.

19. I repeat the patient’s sentences in fewer and different words.

20. I pay attention to body language when I speak to my patients.

21. I give at least one minute to listen to my patient after the 1st question.

22. I consider myself very convincing when proposing the treatment plan to the patients (the doctors feel more pushy or forceful).

23. I feel comfortable to talk about money with the patient.

24. I find it easy to convince the patient about the cost of the treatment by sharing the benefits and outcomes of the plan.

25. I welcome the presence of accompanying person during the treatment.