Adaptation and validation of the SEGUE checklist to assess osteopathy students' clinical communication skills

Objective This paper explores the adaptation and validation of the SEGUE checklist as a tool to assess clinical communication skills in undergraduate osteopathy students in Australia. Methods A literature review guided instrument selection of the SEGUE tool for the learning, teaching and assessment of clinical communication skills in undergraduate osteopathy students. The SEGUE framework checklist was modified and adapted to meet the practises of undergraduate osteopathy students and a subsequent study was conducted to assess its validity; intra-rater and inter-rater reliability over three time points. Results A modified SEGUE checklist was developed and validated. Statistical analysis revealed acceptable inter-rater reliability at two time points six weeks apart. Intra-rater reliability revealed moderate to good reliability between the two time points six weeks apart. Testing also revealed scope for further sub-element refinement. Conclusion The SEGUE checklist has the potential to be suitably adapted for both teaching and assessing clinical communication skills in undergraduate osteopathy students. Further work across a number of universities is needed to add and refine sub-elements of the checklist.