Exploring what patients think when answering the Interpersonal Skills Questionnaire (ISQ): A 'think aloud' study.

Background: The Interpersonal Skills Questionnaire (ISQ) was developed to collect patient feedback on consultation skills of practitioners. However, it has not yet been evaluated with pharmacists.

Objective: To explore the thinking process of patients as they completed the ISQ following a consultation with a pharmacist.

Methods: A qualitative think aloud (TA) methodology was used to explore patients' thinking while completing the ISQ following a consultation with a pharmacist. The study was conducted in secondary care with outpatients ≥18 years old. Interviews were carried out in rounds and were informally analysed (i.e., by writing notes while listening to recordings) to identify any associated major problem(s). Discussions were held between researchers to determine whether changes were needed based on patients' comments.

Results: Eight patients in total (50% females) participated in this study (mean age: 48 years). Three rounds of TA were conducted. Most items of the ISQ were interpreted similarly by all participants with no major problems necessitating refining the ISQ.

Conclusions: Modification of the ISQ was unnecessary as interviews demonstrated no major problems with its use. The ISQ is thus a potentially suitable tool to collect patient feedback on pharmacists' consultations.