Table 3.
Resident Communication Skills Epscale Data
| Communication Skill | Frequency (%) of Encounters1 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Skill Used Effectively | Skill Omitted or Ineffectively Used | |
| Building Relationship | ||
| Warm greeting introduction | 20 (93%)+ | 2 (8%) |
| Initial rapport/nonmedical | 9 (41%) | 13 (59%) X |
| Respects patient | 21 (95%)+ | 1 (5%) |
| Empathy | 15 (69%) | 7 (31%) |
| Appropriate non-verbal | 17 (77%) | 5 (23%) |
| Gathering Information | ||
| Opening question | 13 (60%) | 9 (40%) |
| Agenda building | 1 (2%) | 21 (98%) X |
| Listens attentively to the whole story | 18 (80%)+ | 4 (20%) |
| Open questions | 13 (59%) | 9 (41%) |
| Clear language/no jargon | 20 (91%)+ | 2 (9%) |
| Patient perspective | 2 (9%) | 20 (91%) X |
| Giving Information | ||
| Assess patient starting point | 13 (60%) | 9 (40%) |
| Organize explanation | 20 (90%)+ | 2 (10%) |
| Chunks and checks2 | 14 (63%) | 8 (38%) |
| Clear language/no jargon | 19 (88%)+ | 3 (12%) |
| Explores management options | 7 (33%) | 15 (67%) X |
| Involves patient in decision | 13 (61%) | 9 (39%) |
| Negotiates plan | 10 (47%) | 12 (53%) X |
| Check patient understanding | 8 (37%) | 14 (63%) X |
1
Percentages are calculated out of the total number of encounters in which each skill was applicable.
2
Provides information in manageable parts, and uses patient’s responses to guide next steps.
3
“+” indicates the skill was used in 80% or more of total encounters. “X” indicates that the skill was omitted or ineffectively used in greater than 50% of total encounters.