Evaluating the Content of the Communication Items in the CAHPS^® Clinician and Group Survey and Supplemental Items with What High-Performing Physicians Say They Do

A doctor’s ability to communicate effectively is key to establishing and maintaining positive doctor–patient relationships. The Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and System (CAHPS^®) Clinician and Group Survey is the standard for collecting and reporting information about patients’ experiences of care in the USA.

To evaluate how well CAHPS^® Clinician and Group 2.0 core and supplemental survey items (CG-CAHPS) with a 12-month reference capture doctor–patient communication.

Eleven of the 40 highest-rated physicians on the CG-CAHPS survey treating patients in a Midwest commercial health plan.

Data were obtained via semi-structured interviews. Specific behaviors, practices, and opinions about doctor communication were coded and compared to the CG-CAHPS items.

CG-CAHPS fully captures six of the nine behaviors most commonly mentioned by high-performing physicians: employing office staff with good people skills; involving office staff in communication with patients; spending enough time with patients; listening carefully; providing clear, simple explanations; and devising an action plan with each patient. Three physician behaviors identified as key were not captured in CG-CAHPS items: use of nonverbal communication; greeting patients and introducing oneself; and tracking personal information about patients.

CG-CAHPS survey items capture many of the most commonly mentioned doctor–patient communication behaviors and practices identified by high-performing physicians. Nonverbal communication, greeting patients, and tracking personal information about patients were identified as key aspects of doctor–patient communication, but are not captured by the current CG-CAHPS. We recommend further research to assess patients’ perceptions of specific verbal and nonverbal behaviors (such as leaning forward in a chair, casually asking about other family members), followed by the development of new items (if needed) that aim to capture what these specific behaviors represent to patients (e.g., listens attentively, seems to care about me as a person, empathy). We also recommend including items about greeting and tracking personal information about patients in future CAHPS item sets addressing doctor–patient communication. Enriching the content of the CAHPS communication measure can help health-care organizations improve doctor–patient communication and interactions.