Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Providers' self-efficacy in patient-centeredness, defined as their confidence in their ability to communicate in a patient-centered manner, is linked to their patient-centered attitudes and behaviors. The SEPCQ-27 is a validated instrument to measure medical students' and physicians' self-efficacy in patient-centered communication. The aim of this study was to produce a German adaptation of the SEPCQ-27 and evaluate its psychometric properties in a sample of physicians in oncology. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The SEPCQ-27 was professionally translated and adapted into German. Descriptive analyses, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and internal consistency, convergent, discriminant and construct validity were conducted using data from a sample of n = 258 physicians collected during the three-arm cluster-randomized intervention trial 'KommRhein Interpro' conducted from 2019-2023. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis led to a modified three-dimensional German version with 24 items (SEPCQ-24-GER), which showed acceptable fit in confirmatory factor analysis (χ(2)/df = 1.8, CFI = 0.92, TLI = 0.91, SRMR = 0.05, RMSEA = 0.06). The SEPCQ-24-GER demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha > 0.7 for all three dimensions) and acceptable convergent (CR for all dimensions is > 0.7), discriminant (√AVE is higher than the factor intercorrelations for all but one factor), and construct validity (regarding occupational group (F = 4.741, p < .001), occupational experience (r =.240, p < .001) and between factor 3 and sex (t = 2.575, p = .011)). DISCUSSION: The SEPCQ-24-GER demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties. Future research should focus on further measures of reliability, sensitivity to change and validation within different samples. TRIAL REGISTRATION: DRKS (German Clinical Trials Register) - ID: DRKS00022563, registered 29/07/2020.