Table 1. Item characteristics.
| Item | Mean | SD | Min | Max | IQR * | 10% - 90%** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greets patient | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 - 3 |
| Introduces self and role | 2.4 | 1.3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 5 |
| Demonstrates respect | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 - 3 |
| Identifies and confirms problems list | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 4 |
| Negotiates agenda | 3.9 | 1.2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 - 5 |
| Scale “beginning the session” | 2.4 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 4.2 | 1.0 | 1.5 - 2.5 |
| Encourages patient to tell story | 2.0 | 1.2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 4 |
| Appropriately moves from open to closed questions | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 4 |
| Listens attentively | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 - 3 |
| Facilitates patient’s responses verbally and non-verbally | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 4 |
| Uses easily understood questions and comments | 1.7 | 0.9 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 - 3 |
| Clarifies patient’s statements | 2.4 | 1.1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 4 |
| Establishes dates | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 3 |
| Scale “gathering information” | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 4.5 | 1.1 | 1.0 - 3.6 |
| Determines and acknowledges patient’s ideas re cause | 2.7 | 1.4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 - 5 |
| Explores patient’s concerns re problem | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 4 |
| Encourages expression of emotions | 2.5 | 1.2 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 - 4 |
| Picks up/responds to verbal and non-verbal clues | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 - 4 |
| Scale “understanding patient’s perspective” | 2.6 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 1.5 | 1.3 - 4.3 |
| Summarises at end of a specific line of inquiry | 3.1 | 1.2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 5 |
| Progresses using transitional statements | 2.6 | 1.1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 - 4 |
| Structures logical sequence | 2.4 | 1.0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 - 4 |
| Attends to timing | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 4 |
| Scale “providing structure to consultation” | 2.6 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 1.2 | 1.5 - 3.8 |
| Demonstrates appropriate non-verbal behaviour | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 3 |
| If reads or writes, doesn’t interfere with dialogue/rapport | 2.1 | 1.1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 4 |
| Is not judgemental | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 4 |
| Empathises with and supports patient | 2.3 | 1.2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 4 |
| Appears confident | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 3 |
| Scale “building relationship” | 2.1 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 4.2 | 1.4 | 1.0 - 3.4 |
| Encourages patient to discuss any additional points | 2.5 | 1.4 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 - 5 |
| Closes interview by summarising briefly | 3.0 | 1.3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 - 5 |
| Contracts with patient re next steps | 1.9 | 1.0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 - 4 |
| Scale “closing the session” | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 1.7 | 1.4 - 3.7 |
| Overall score | 2.4 | 0.7 | - | - | 1.1 | 1.5 - 3.5 |
*Interquartile range (difference between upper and lower quartile), **10% to 90% interval