Development, Reliability, and Validity of the Medical Helping Relationship Inventory

Abstract

Results of five studies; which were conducted over a 4-year period, provide initial evidence that a new instrument, the Medical Helping Relationship Inventory (MHRI), can reliably and validly be used in the evaluation of medical communication skills. The final version of the MHRI consists of five scales that assess preferences for understanding, probing, focusing, reassuring, and judgmental responses to patients. Coefficient alpha reliability estimates for these scales exceeded estimates obtained for both the counseling Helping Relationship Inventory and a preliminary version of the MHRI and ranged between .62 and .91 (Studies I and 2). Evidence of convergent, discriminant, and construct validity is provided in Studies 3 and 4. Results were replicated and cross-validated in Study 5. The authors believe that the MHRI may be useful in other settings (e.g., other medical or professional schools) and with other groups ofhealth professionals (e.g., house officers; community physicians, nurses, social workers, and others).