The outcome of communication training is widely measured by self-efficacy ratings, and different questionnaires have been used. Nevertheless, none of these questionnaires have been formally validated through systematic measurement of assessment properties. Consequently, we decided to further develop a self-efficacy questionnaire which has been used in previous studies. This study aims to examine the content, internal structure, and relations with other variables of the new version of the self-efficacy questionnaire (SE-12). The questionnaire was developed on the basis of the theoretical approach applied in the communication course, statements from former course participants, teachers, and experts in the field. The questionnaire was initially validated through face-to-face interviews with 9 staff members following a test-retest including 195 participants. After minor adjustments, the SE-12 questionnaire demonstrated evidence of content validity. An explorative factor analysis indicated unidimensionality with highly correlated items. A Cronbach’s α of 0.95 and a Loevinger’s H coefficient of 0.71 provided evidence of statistical reliability and scalability. The test-retest reliability had a value of 0.71 when evaluated using intra-class correlation. Expected relations with other variables were partially confirmed in two of three hypotheses, but a ceiling effect was present in 9 of 12 items. The SE-12 scale should be regarded a reliable and partially valid instrument. We consider the questionnaire useful for self-evaluation of clinical communication skills; the SE-12 is user-friendly and can be administered as an electronic questionnaire. However, future research should explore potential needs for adjustments to reduce the identified ceiling effect.

To analyse the patients' inclination to comment in generic patient surveys, and to evaluate how these comments were received and used for quality improvement by the hospitals. The study is based on quantitative and qualitative data from four rounds of patient satisfaction surveys from 1999 to 2006. The open-ended questions and their applicability were evaluated by hospital and department management teams in a survey and by hospital employees and leaders, in semi-structured interviews. Eight public hospitals in a Danish county (amt). In this study, the participants were 75 769 patients, 173 department/hospital management teams, and 24 hospital employees and leaders. Questionnaires with open-ended questions to patients and hospital/department management teams. Semi-structured interviews with hospital employees and leaders. The number of comments from patients and the usefulness of the comments as perceived by employees and leaders. A total of 76% of the patients chose to add one or more comments to their questionnaires. The patients' inclination to comment increased over time. The patient's inclination to comment was highest for the most and the least satisfied patients. The comment-gathering was viewed as ‘Very useful’ or ‘Useful’ by 80.7% of the department management teams (31 responses). To gather comments and to forward these to small organizational entities seems to make patient satisfaction measurements more informative and patient-centred. The wording of the open-ended questions, the number of questions and an appeal in the cover letter appear to be important in relation to the patient's inclination to comment.

Objective To identify parents’ priorities and satisfaction in relation to pediatric care to assess nurses’ and physicians’ ability to provide care and treatment that fulfill parents’ needs. Design, Setting, and Participants The study took place in the pediatric ward of a regional hospital in Denmark. It included 300 parents of children admitted for acute care, and the data were collected by means of a self-administered questionnaire. After admission, parents were asked about priorities. After discharge from the hospital, parents were asked to report their level of satisfaction with the elements of care they had received during their stay. Results A total of 253 questionnaires were returned for the first section (a response rate of 84%), and 170 questionnaires were returned for the second section (response rate of 67%). The greatest gap between priorities and satisfaction was in the waiting time related to admission, waiting time related to fulfillment of the child’s needs, and information given about care and treatment. Parents were most satisfied with the nurses’ behavior; however, physicians’ performance was given the highest priority score. Conclusions Parents’ priorities and assessments of inpatient pediatric care rest heavily on the communication between physicians and parents. The present study pointed to the need for improved and clearer communication. In addition, the poor performance with regard to waiting time indicates that this is a major area for improvement.

In recent years, coaching has received special attention as a method to improve healthy lifestyle behaviours. The fact that coaching has found its way into healthcare and may provide new ways of engaging the patients and making them accountable for their health, justifies the need for an overview of the evidence regarding coaching interventions used in patient care, the effect of the interventions, and the quality of the studies published. However, in order to provide a clear definition of the coaching interventions selected for this review, we have found it necessary to distinguish between health coaching and life coaching. In this review, we will only focus on the latter method and on that basis assess the health related outcomes of life coaching.