Evaluating Students' Use of Therapeutic Communication in Entry-Level Education: The Observer Version of the Clinical Assessment of Modes (CAM-Observer).

IMPORTANCE

The Intentional Relationship Model (IRM) guides learning about therapeutic use of self. The observer version of the Clinical Assessment of Modes (CAM-Observer) may be used to evaluate students' therapeutic communication as the process is defined in the IRM.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the structural validity of the CAM-Observer.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, psychometric study.

SETTING

Master's in occupational therapy program.

PARTICIPANTS

One hundred thirty-four entry-level students.

OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The overall CAM-Observer and the individual subscales (Advocating, Collaborating, Empathizing, Encouraging, Instructing, Problem-Solving) were used to assess students' communication from the instructor's perspective.

RESULTS

The overall CAM-Observer and six subscales demonstrated appropriate rating scale functioning and dimensionality. The Advocating subscale demonstrated poor item fit, floor effects, and low person separation. One Collaborating item demonstrated poor fit to the overall CAM-Observer and the Collaborating subscale, requiring revision. Instructing and Encouraging items were most likely to be endorsed by the instructor-observers, resulting in a ceiling effect for the Instructing and Encouraging subscales. The Advocating and Problem-Solving items were least likely to be endorsed by the instructor-observers. Except for the Problem-Solving subscale, the overall CAM-Observer and the individual subscales could reliably separate items according to difficulty. Except for the Advocating subscale, the overall CAM-Observer and the individual subscales could reliably separate people into high- and low-performance groups.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The CAM-Observer offers a structurally valid and theoretically grounded assessment of students' therapeutic communication as the process is defined in the IRM. The CAM-Observer can be integrated into occupational therapy education to guide students' critical reflection on their interpersonal communication.

WHAT THIS ARTICLE ADDS

The CAM-Observer offers a means of evaluating students' therapeutic use of self.