Article

Knowledge about the determinants of communication behaviour of
physicians during face-to-face consultations with patients might increase our
understanding of communication behaviour, and provide insight into how training
might be able to change their communication behaviour. For physicians who conduct
work disability assessment interviews, referred to as 'social insurance
physicians', communication with patients is their most important instrument.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to understand the determinants of
communication behaviour of social insurance physicians, by modelling the
following constructs of the Theory of Planned Behaviour: attitudes, social
influence, self-efficacy, skills, barriers and intentions concerning their
communication with claimants in medical disability assessments. METHOD:
Cross-sectional data were collected by means of questionnaires. Analyses were
performed with the LISREL maximum likelihood estimation procedure. RESULTS: The
results showed a well-fitting model in which attitudes had a significant and
substantial direct effect on two intentions. Self-efficacy had a significant, but
smaller direct effect on one intention. CONCLUSIONS: Empirical support was found
for a model that describes intentions of social insurance physicians, especially
intentions to give information and to consider personal aspects. Attitudes were
the main determinants of physicians' intentions and therefore these may be a
promising focus of communication skills training.

Langue : ANGLAIS