title: Development of a measure to assess effective listening and interactive communication skills in the delivery of children's rehabilitation services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Therapists' listening and communication skills are fundamental to the delivery of children's rehabilitation services but few measures comprehensively assess these skills. The 24-item Effective Listening and Interactive Communication Scale (ELICS) was developed to reflect a multifaceted conceptualization based on evidence in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 41 pediatric rehabilitation therapists (occupational, physical, speech-language, recreation, and behavioural therapists; psychologists and social workers) were used to determine the factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the subscales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The measure contains four subscales with very good to excellent reliability: Consensus-oriented, Exploratory, Receptive, and Action-oriented Listening. Content validity was ensured by the development process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ELICS portrays listening as a purposeful, goal-oriented, and relational activity. The measure allows clinicians to assess and reflect on their listening/communication skills, and can be used to evaluate professional development activities and interventions geared to improving these skills.
authors: Bloorview Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. gking27@uwo.ca
authors: Gillian A
authors: GA
authors: King
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Servais
authors: Linda
authors: L
authors: Bolack
authors: Tracy A
authors: TA
authors: Shepherd
authors: Colleen
authors: C
authors: Willoughby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010372:Pediatrics; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000592:standards; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce