Table 4.
The scoring percentages of responses by physicians to questions about informing, empathy and trust subdimensions on a 5-Point Likert type communicative attitude scale
| QUESTIONNAIRE ITEMS FOR THE PHYSICIANS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Always % | Very Often % | Some times % | Rarely % | Never % | |
| SUBDIMENSION OF INFORMING | |||||
| 1- I believe that the frequency of informing the patient relative about my patient is sufficient. | 35.0 | 47.6 | 15.5 | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| 2- After speaking to the patient relative, I still feel like I have provided insufficient information. | 14.6 | 52.4 | 26.2 | 2.9 | 3.9 |
| 3- I believe I describe the medical condition of my patient in the most comprehensive way. | 26.2 | 54.4 | 14.6 | 4.9 | 0.0 |
| 4- When I speak to a patient relative, I give all the information about the patient. | 25.2 | 58.3 | 12.6 | 3.9 | 0.0 |
| 5- I use language that patient relatives can understand when I am telling them about the medical situations related to their patients. | 44.7 | 50.5 | 0.0 | 4.9 | 0.0 |
| 6- I would like to give the medical information about my patient next to the patient himself/herself. | 8.7 | 22.3 | 19.4 | 29.1 | 20.4 |
| 7- I would like to respond to all the questions that patient relatives ask. | 29.1 | 42.7 | 23.3 | 3.9 | 1.0 |
| 8- Physicians have difficulty giving bad news. | 39.8 | 37.9 | 16.5 | 5.8 | 0.0 |
| SUBDIMENSION OF EMPATHY | |||||
| 9- I believe that I care about my patient. | 59.2 | 32.0 | 4.9 | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| 10- I believe that I care about the patient relatives in addition to the patients. | 40.8 | 52.4 | 4.9 | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| 11- When I have a problem with the patient relative, I try to think in a calm manner. | 23.3 | 47.6 | 13.6 | 11.7 | 3.9 |
| 12- When patient relatives have a friendly approach, this makes it easier for me to build a close relationship. | 35.9 | 45.6 | 17.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| 13- When my directions about my patient are followed, this makes things easier for me. | 58.3 | 39.8 | 0.0 | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| 14- I believe that, as a physician, I treat everyone equally. | 46.6 | 48.5 | 4.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 16- ICU physicians are friendly and smiling. | 6.8 | 41.7 | 40.8 | 10.7 | 0.0 |
| 17- ICU physicians have an understanding attitude. | 19.4 | 59.2 | 20.4 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| 18- I believe that, as a physician, I give the required support. | 27.2 | 62.1 | 10.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| SUBDIMENSION OF TRUST | |||||
| 19- I feel peaceful after speaking to the patient relative. | 15.5 | 47.6 | 29.1 | 6.8 | 1.0 |
| 20- I feel nervous while speaking to the patient relative. | 6.8 | 17.5 | 48.5 | 21.4 | 5.8 |
| 21- I trust the patient relative while speaking to him/her. | 5.8 | 35.0 | 28.2 | 24.3 | 6.8 |
| 22- The patient relative can access me whenever he/she needs to see me about the patient. | 22.3 | 55.3 | 13.6 | 6.8 | 1.9 |
| 23- If a problem occurs about my patient, I am responsible for it. | 6.8 | 8.7 | 23.3 | 34.0 | 27.2 |
| 24- I would like to foster confidence as an ICU physician. | 67.0 | 33.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
The questionaire assesses the communicative skills of the patients’ relatives and the physicians