Table 2

Modified Patient–Practitioner orientation scale (PPOS): Mean scores and SD

All participants (n=191)Portugal (n=55)India (n=78)Iran (n=58)
PPOS Items (Mean±SD)
1. The audiologist is the one who should decide what gets discussed during an appointment2.4±1.12.4±1.22.3±1.22.5±1.2
2. Although healthcare is less personal these days, this is a small price to pay for audiological advances3.0±1.44.3±1.22.7±1.22.1±1.0
3. The most important part of the standard audiological appointment is the hearing test2.7±1.43.4±1.22.5±1.52.3±1.1
4. It is often best for clients if they do not have the full explanation of their audiological condition4.6±1.35.0±1.04.5±1.54.2±1.3
5. Clients should rely on their audiologist’s knowledge and not try to find out about their conditions on their own3.2±1.74.2±1.43.4±1.62.0±1.3
6. When audiologists ask a lot of questions about a client's background, they are prying too much into personal matters4.4±1.35.0±1.04.0±1.34.2±1.4
7. If audiologists are truly good at diagnosis and treatment, the way they relate to clients is not that important4.8±1.25.5±0.74.4±1.34.6±1.2
8. Many clients continue asking questions even though they are not learning anything new3.2±1.23.4±1.23.2±1.23.0±1.2
9. Clients should be treated as if they were partners with the audiologist, equal in power and status*4.1±1.64.7±1.63.7±1.54.0±1.5
10. Clients generally want reassurance rather than information about their audiological condition2.8±1.13.3±1.02.7±1.12.5±1.1
11. If an audiologist's primary tools are being open and warm, the audiologist will not have a lot of success4.3±1.44.6±1.13.8±1.44.6±1.3
12. When clients disagree with their audiologist, this is a sign that the audiologist does not have the client's respect and trust3.8±1.24.6±1.03.7±1.13.1±1.2
13. A management plan cannot succeed if it is in conflict with a client's lifestyle or values*4.7±1.14.7±1.14.6±1.04.7±1.2
14. Most clients want to get in and out of the audiologist's office as quickly as possible3.5±1.44.4±1.23.3±1.22.9±1.3
15. The client must always be aware that the audiologist is in charge2.6±1.32.7±1.22.4±1.12.9±1.5
16. It is not that important to know a client's culture and background in order to treat the client's audiological condition4.6±1.35.3±0.94.3±1.44.6±1.2
17. Humour is a major ingredient in the audiologist's management of the client*4.1±1.34.8±1.03.8±1.33.8±1.4
18. When clients look up audiological information on their own, this usually confuses more than it helps2.9±1.32.6±1.02.8±1.43.4±1.3
PPOS scales (mean±SD)
 Full scale3.6±0.64.2±0.53.5±0.63.4±0.4
 Sharing subscale3.6±0.74.2±0.63.4±0.73.2±0.5
 Caring subscale3.7±0.64.1±0.53.5±0.53.6±0.5
  • Score of 1 (strongly agree), most clinician-centred; Score of 6 (strongly disagree), most patient-centred. Items 9, 13 and 17 (*) are reversely worded items which were reverse scored.

  • PPOS,