Patient education and counseling
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All healthcare workers' communication skills are recognised as valuable indicators of quality of care from the patient's perspective. Most of the studies measure doctor-patient communication, giving scarce attention to other professionals. This study is aimed at developing and providing preliminary validation of a questionnaire to measure outpatients' experience of communication with hospital personnel other than doctors. ⋯ The HCCQ gives information that could be taken as an indirect and subjective indicator of the quality of hospital services as provided by non-medical staff. This aspect may have a role in local quality improvement initiatives.