Validity and reliability of standardized instruments measuring physician communication and interpersonal skills in video-recorded medical consultations - A systematic review

Objective: To identify standardized instruments measuring physician communication and interpersonal skills based on video-recorded consultations. Methods: We searched electronic databases for primary studies published from 1950 to 2022. Eligible studies had to report the validation of standardized instruments dedicated to the assessment of physician interpersonal skills based on video-recorded consultations with adult patients. Results: Of 7155 studies retrieved, 13 primary studies involving nine standardized instruments were included. The median number of physicians and participants was 23 (range, 1-200) and 71 (range, 1-950), respectively. Seven out of nine instruments were multidimensional and comprised a median number of 23 items (range, 7-95). The conceptual framework was reported for two instruments only. Content analysis identified 12 key behaviors with substantial overlap across instruments. The Four Habits Coding Scheme (4-HCS) yielded satisfactory validity and reliability while the evidence on psychometric properties was limited for other instruments. Conclusion: Limited evidence supports the psychometric attributes for most of the published standardized instruments dedicated to assessing physician communication and interpersonal skills. Practice Implications: Although the decision to use a specific instrument depends on the study aims, the 4-HCS appears to be the most reliable instrument for assessing physician communication and interpersonal skills based on video-recorded consultations.