A theory based proposal to evaluate Patient-Centred Communication in medical consultations: the Verona Patient-centred Communication Evaluation scale (VR-COPE).

Abstract Purpose – The prupose of this paper is to present the development of the Verona Patient-Centred Communication Evaluation (VR-COPE) scale, together with its psychometric properties. The nine item rating scale assesses the content and relational aspects of patient-centred communication during medical consultations on the basis of a multidimensional evaluation as suggested by the more recent literature in the field. Each item is defined by operational definitions. Design/methodology/approach – A sample of 246 transcribed primary care consultations was rated with the VR-COPE. Explorative factor analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients and internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha were calculated. Convergent validity with the Verona Medical Interview Classification System (VR-MICS) was also tested. A sub sample of 32 consultations was used to assess inter-rater reliability. Findings – Interrater reliability and internal consistency were good (overall Cronbach alpha ¼ 0:75). Four factors (explaining 74 per cent of the variance) were extracted by exploratory factor analysis. Six items of the VR-COPE correlated significantly with specific communication skills evidenced by the VR-MICS and pertained to the physician’s ability to explore medical or psychosocial issues. The VR-COPE items on interview structure and shared decision, more related to process than to specific skills, had no equivalent in the VR-MICS. Originality/value – The new rating scale responds to the need in communication research for a multidimensional scale that combines the evaluation of specific skills and process aspects.