Psychometric of the interpersonal communication skills scale: A confirmatory factor analysis

Abstract

Background: In order to improve patient outcomes, healthcare professionals' communication skills need to be evaluated. A valid, culturally appropriate, and endemic scale for assessing interpersonal communication skills among the staff of comprehensive health centers in Iran was examined to achieve such an objective. Materials & methods: A convenience sampling was used in November and December 2021 to collect information from 170 voluntary healthcare staff. The questionnaire had 30 items and seven factors. First- and second-order confirmatory factor analysis was used to validate the scale. Model fit was evaluated with GFI, AGFI, CFI, NFI, SRMR, RMSEA, and CN indices during confirmatory factor analysis. Discriminant validity was measured through Fronell-Larcker Criterion. Data were analyzed using Lisrel 8.8 & Smartpls 3.2.8 software. Results: The predictive power of the model using the Q2-index based on the blindfolding test was equal to % 44. The first-order CFA results indicated that the indices had an acceptable value(χ2= 767.17; DF=375; CFI=0.98; GFI=0.82; AGFI=0.80; NFI=0.97; SRMR=0.22; CN= 127.83; RMSEA=0.068). Also, the fit indices of the second-order measurement model demonstrated the the adequacy and their desirability. (χ2= 797.24; DF=381; CFI=0.98; GFI=0.82; AGFI=0.78; NFI=0.97; SRMR=0.059; CN= 127.33; RMSEA=0.068). In terms of the importance-performance map analysis, the general and listening skills had the highest scores. Conclusion: To develop interpersonal communication skills among healthcare staff, this scale could be useful. The results will need to be compared after further evaluation. It proposes to replicate skills training programs in other populations to determine their effectiveness.