Introduction:

The assessment of the communication between nurses and patients is part of the interpersonal dimension of quality of care. This relationship has been studied from diverse points of view which focus on issues such as the design and validation of measuring instruments.

Objective:

Using the Delphi method, to redesign and validate a nurse-patient communication measuring instrument.

Methodology:

Together with expert and sensitive to the therapeutic relationship nurses, the Delphi method was used to redesign and validate a communication measuring instrument. The coordinators assessed the contents in three cycles calculating the Item Content Validity and Integral Content Validity coefficients.

Results:

The Integral Content Validity of the CECOP-23 instrument was 0.84 in the first cycle. Four items were deleted and two were substituted in agreement with the suggestions of the experts. The Integral Content Validity of the instrument was 0.95 in the second cycle. The group suggested using simpler terms which could foster closeness to the patient. The Integral Content Validity was 0.96 in the third cycle. The CECOP instrument was finally constituted by 21 items, 10 exploring empathy and 11 exploring respect.

Conclusions:

Working along with the experts prompted the analysis of the CECOP-23 instrument in order to produce the CECOP-21 which has more precise and "warm" items. The objective of redesigning and instrument which, maintaining the equilibrium between empathy and respect, could measure the nurse-patient communication was achieved.