Clinical interview measurement and outcom determinants: a primary care report

A clinical interview scale was used to measure the interviews of 7 GPs recorded on audio-tapes. The instrument showed an impressive face, concurrent, and predictive validity. Inter-rater reliability findings varied from Kappa scores (K) of 0.58 to 0.91 in the skills subscale, and 0.78 to I in the psychological issues subsection. While Test-retest reliability gave mean values of 0.92 ± 0.051 in the skills and 0.98 ± 0.03 in the psychological subsections. Giving General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) feedback, total GHQ score, the doctor factor, and the interaction between these variables had varying but significant individual effects on the items of content of clinical interviews used by the doctors. The usefulness and limitations of clinical interview measurement in primary health care research was highlighted.