The effectiveness of a person-centred communication skills training programme for the health care professionals of a large hospital in Denmark

Abstract

ObjectiveAs a part of an evaluation of a large-scale communication skills training (CST) programme, this study aimed to investigate the effect on health care professionals’ (HCPs) self-efficacy (SE) and perceived importance (PI) of the skills taught. MethodsA pre-post intervention design was used, and 1647 HCPs responded to the SE-12 questionnaire. Changes in self-efficacy were examined at an item and scale level. ResultsThe responses of 74% of the HCPs who replied to at least two of the three questionnaires were analysed. A significant increase in the SE-12 scale scores by 12.45 points between Q1 (baseline) and Q2 (immediately after the intervention) across all professions was found. There was a small albeit statistically significant decrease in the SE-12 scale scores by 2.06 points between Q2 and Q3 (24 weeks after the intervention). ConclusionThe implementation of the CST course significantly improved the self-efficacy of HCPs. The findings were supported by an increase in the number of HCPs who considered the skills that they had acquired to be very important. Practice implicationsThe findings suggest that the large-scale implementation of evidence-based CST programmes can yield the same outcomes that have been observed in smaller and better controlled studies.