Patient validation of cues and concerns identified according to Verona coding definitions of emotional sequences (VR-CoDES): A video- and interview-based approach

• Published in: Patient education and counseling 2011-02, Vol.82 (2), p.156-162
• Main Authors: Eide, Hilde, Eide, Tom, Rustøen, Tone, Finset, Arnstein
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Coding; Communication; Concerns; Consultation; Cues; Emotions; Empathic accuracy; Empathy; Female; Humans; Internal Medicine; Interview, Psychological; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Nurse–patient relations; Nursing; Patient–provider communication; Physician-Patient Relations; Psychometrics; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Qualitative Research; Referral and Consultation; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sequences; Stimulated recall; Validation; Verbal Behavior - physiology; Videotape Recording
• ISSN: 0738-3991; 1873-5134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2010.04.036

Abstract Objective A challenging but main task for clinicians is to identify patients’ concerns related to their medical conditions. The study aim was to validate a new coding scheme for identifying patients’ cues and concerns. Methods 12 videotaped consultations between nurses and pain patients were coded according to the Verona Coding Scheme for Emotional Sequences (VR-CoDES). During a metainterview each patient watched his/her own video interview with the researcher to confirm or disconfirm the identified cues and concerns. A directive or an open format was applied. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses were performed. Results Patients’ confirmation in relation to the coding gave a sensitivity of 0.95 and specificity of 0.99 in the directive format and a sensitivity of 0.99 and specificity of 0.70 applying the open format. Through a qualitative analysis 83% of researcher-identified cues and concerns were validated. 17% were not confirmed or uncertain. Conclusion The VR-CoDES seems to capture what are experienced as real concerns to patients, and proves to be a coding scheme with a high degree of ecological validity. Practice implications The VR-CoDES provides a valid framework for detecting patients’ cues and concerns, and should be explored as a training tool to develop clinicians’ empathic accuracy.