Assessing clinical micro-skills in deliberate practice exercises: validation of the clinical micro-skill training...

To develop and validate a video rating instrument designed to assess transtheoretical clinical micro-skills within deliberate practice (DP) exercises.

The Clinical Micro-Skill Training (CMST) Scale was developed based on three established therapeutic competence measures and refined by expert clinician input. The instrument was then applied by trainee psychotherapists to rate N = 433 videos from N = 59 training candidates, who responded to simulated patient statements as if they were the therapist in that situation. Descriptive results, internal consistency, inter-rater reliability, item structure, convergent and discriminant validity were examined.

The CMST demonstrated good reliability, with an internal consistency of ω = .82 and inter-rater reliability of ICC = .73 for the total score. Exploratory factor analysis revealed three factors-Interpersonal Competence, Communication Competence, and Process and Time Management. The CMST also exhibited satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity.

The CMST demonstrates feasibility, reliability, validity, and efficiency in the assessment of therapeutic micro-skills. Its multidimensional structure allows for a nuanced approach, moving beyond mean scores to evaluate and target specific competence facets for improvement. However, its predictive validity for treatment outcomes remains to be explored in future studies.