A tool for assessing case history and feedback skills in audiology students working with simulated patients

To develop a tool for assessing audiology students taking a case history and giving feedback with simulated patients (SP).

Single observation, single group design.

Twenty-four first-year audiology students, five simulated patients, two clinical educators, and three evaluators.

The Audiology Simulated Patient Interview Rating Scale (ASPIRS) was developed consisting of six items assessing specific clinical skills, non-verbal communication, verbal communication, interpersonal skills, interviewing skills, and professional practice skills. These items are applied once for taking a case history and again for giving feedback. The ASPIRS showed very high internal consistency (α = 0.91-0.97; mean inter-item r = 0.64-0.85) and fair-to-moderate agreement between evaluators (29.2-54.2% exact and 79.2-100% near agreement; κ_weighted up to 0.60). It also showed fair-to-moderate absolute agreement amongst evaluators for single evaluator scores (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] r = 0.35-0.59) and substantial consistency of agreement amongst evaluators for three-evaluator averaged scores (ICC r = 0.62-0.81). Factor analysis showed the ASPIRS' 12 items fell into two components, one containing all feedback items and one containing all case history items.

The ASPIRS shows promise as the first published tool for assessing audiology students taking a case history and giving feedback with an SP.