Table 2.
Pretraining and Posttraining Communication Skills
| Skill | Pretraining (n = 29) |
Posttraining (n = 30) |
Student t Test/McNemar χ2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Absent | Present | Absent | Present | ||
| Agenda setting | Mean = 0.46, SD = 0.64 | Mean = 0.82, SD = 0.67 | t(28) = –1.78 | ||
| Declare agenda | 20 (71.4%) | 8 (28.6%) | 9 (30%) | 21 (70%) | 6.37a |
| Invite agenda | 25 (86.2%) | 4 (13.8%) | 26 (86.7%) | 4 (13.3%) | 0.14 |
| Negotiate agenda | 29 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 29 (100%) | 1 (3.3%) | NA |
| Take stock | 28 (96.6%) | 1 (3.4%) | 28 (93.3%) | 2 (6.7%) | 0.33 |
| Checking | Mean = 0.45, SD = 0.63 | Mean = 0.62, SD = 0.73 | t(28) = –1.22 | ||
| Check understanding | 20 (69%) | 9 (31%) | 17 (56.7%) | 13 (43.3%) | 1.33 |
| Check preference | 25 (86.2%) | 4 (13.8%) | 25 (83.3%) | 5 (16.7%) | 0.33 |
| Questioning | Mean = 2.38, SD = 0.98 | Mean = 2.52, SD = 1.15 | t(28) = –0.52 | ||
| Ask open questions | 2 (6.9%) | 27 (93.1%) | 4 (13.3%) | 26 (86.7%) | 0.33 |
| Clarify | 15 (51.7%) | 14 (48.3%) | 16 (53.3%) | 14 (46.7%) | 0.07 |
| Restate | 23 (79.3%) | 6 (20.7%) | 21 (70%) | 9 (30%) | 0.69 |
| Endorse question asking | 24 (82.8%) | 5 (17.2%) | 23 (76.7%) | 7 (23.3%) | 0.14 |
| Invite questions | 12 (41.4%) | 17 (58.6%) | 11 (36.7%) | 19 (63.3%) | 0.29 |
| Information organization | Mean = 1.10, SD = 0.72 | Mean = 1.17, SD = 0.80 | t(28) = –0.35 | ||
| Preview | 27 (93.1%) | 2 (6.9%) | 25 (83.3%) | 5 (16.7%) | 1.80 |
| Summarize | 24 (82.8%) | 5 (17.2%) | 27 (90%) | 3 (10%) | 0.67 |
| Transition | 18 (62.1%) | 11 (37.9%) | 17 (56.7%) | 13 (43.3%) | 0.22 |
| Review next steps | 15 (51.7%) | 14 (48.3%) | 17 (56.7%) | 13 (43.3%) | 0.08 |
| Empathic communication | Mean = 1.79, SD = 1.37 | Mean = 2.55, SD = 1.38 | t(28) = –2.37a | ||
| Encourage expression of feelings | 18 (62.1%) | 11 (37.9%) | 20 (66.7%) | 10 (33.3%) | 0.11 |
| Acknowledge | 17 (56.7%) | 12 (41.4%) | 11 (36.7%) | 19 (63.3%) | 5.44a |
| Validate | 15 (51.7%) | 14 (48.3%) | 14 (46.7%) | 16 (53.3%) | 0.33 |
| Normalize | 22 (75.9%) | 7 (24.1%) | 19 (63.3%) | 11 (36.7%) | 1.33 |
| Praise patient efforts | 21 (72.4%) | 8 (27.6%) | 12 (40%) | 18 (60%) | 6.25a |
| Stigma-mitigating skills | Mean = 0.55, SD = 0.57 | Mean = 1.17, SD = 0.76 | t(28) = –3.88b | ||
| Provide rationale | 14 (48.3%) | 15 (51.7%) | 5 (16.7%) | 25 (83.3%) | 7.36c |
| Prepare patient for recurring smoking questions | 28 (96.6%) | 1 (3.4%) | 21 (70%) | 9 (30%) | 6.40a |
| Suggest counterarguments | 29 (100%) | 0 (0%) | 29 (96.7%) | 1 (3.3%) | NA |
| Breadth of skills (total) | Mean = 6.75, SD = 2.61 | Mean = 8.93, SD = 3.34 | t(28) = –2.91c | ||
The Student t test was used for skill categories, and the McNemar test was used for individual skills. Agenda setting, checking, questioning, information organization, empathic communication, stigma-mitigating skills, and breadth of skills (total) were skill categories with sum of skills in respective categories. Boldface highlights scores for skill categories and not individual skills. NA = not applicable.
a
P < .05.
b
P < .001.
c
P < .01.