Developers: Laura Siminoff, Mary M. Step

Year of publication: 2011

Date of last revision: 21 October 2019

Setting in which the tool was originally developed/validated: 1) Breast cancer patient-provider conversations and 2) Requests for tissue from families of deceased patients

Restriction to setting(s): None

Target group: All healthcare provider-patient/family communication

Language(s): English

Tool topics:

General communication behavior / Overall communication behavior
Persuasive behaviors
Relationship building
Responding to patients’ requests for information / responding to questions
Shared decision making

Specific constructs/behaviours:

Content; relational communication; decision-making; confirmation, disconfirmation, and persuasive behaviors; observer ratings of immediacy, speech, and affect

Types of data required to use the tool: Video recordings, Audio recordings, Transcripts

Intended application: Research

Reference(s) to development/validation paper(s):

Siminoff, L. A., & Step, M. M. (2011). A comprehensive observational coding scheme for analyzing instrumental, affective, and relational communication in health care contexts. Journal of health communication, 16(2), 178-197.

Tool/manual available: Yes.

Tool description by the author:

Clarification of tool name: What was previously known as the Siminoff Communication Content and Affect Program (SCCAP) has undergone significant technological revisions and is now known as SimCode. Because the changes were mainly programming updates rather than changes to the content or process, the previous papers citing SCCAP are still applicable.

A short training module (~40 minute video) is available by request that provides an overview of how to use SimCode. SimCode is an online program that needs to be hosted by the user's servers, and is usually used in an academic setting for research. Security requirements may vary by institution, but, as developed and hosted at Temple University, is completely HIPAA-compliant. Transcripts, but not audio or video, are uploaded to SimCode.

Access: Public

Contact: Kristin Kopec