Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 11, 2026
Author Spotlight: Evaluating Clinicians' Adoption of Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Cannulation Through Simulation Training
Published on: August 9, 2024
Communication at pediatric rapid response events: a survey of health care providers
Michael C McCrory1, Hanan A Aboumatar2, Elizabeth A Hunt3
1Pediatric Critical Care, Departments of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and mmccrory@wakehealth.edu.
Insights
Communication quality perceptions differ between pediatric rapid response team members and floor providers. A structured approach with defined roles may enhance communication during critical events.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care medicine
- Healthcare communication
- Patient safety
Background:
- Effective communication is crucial during pediatric rapid response events.
- Perceptions of communication quality can vary among different clinical teams.
- Understanding these differences is key to improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore communication quality perceptions at pediatric rapid response events.
- To compare perceptions between rapid response team members (RRTm) and floor providers (FP).
Main Methods:
- A survey study was conducted at a tertiary care children's hospital.
- Perceptions of RRT communication were assessed using a 5-point Likert scale and qualitative comments.
- Responses were compared between RRTm (responder nurses, intensive care fellows) and FP (floor nurses, resident physicians).
Main Results:
- RRTm reported lower communication quality ratings than FP for key aspects like purpose of call, airway, breathing, circulation, and diagnosis/treatment.
- RRTm were more likely to report background information delays impacting critical management communication.
- Qualitative themes included role confusion, fractured room entry, and dismissive attitudes from RRTm.
Conclusions:
- A significant disconnect exists in perceived communication quality between RRTm and FP during pediatric rapid response events.
- Implementing a structured communication approach with well-defined roles may improve RRT effectiveness.
- Addressing identified communication barriers is essential for optimizing patient care during emergencies.
Objectives:
The objective of this study was to explore perceptions of communication quality at pediatric rapid response events and to determine whether these perceptions differed between rapid response team (RRT) members (RRTm) and floor providers (FP).
Methods:
This survey study was conducted of clinical providers involved in RRT events at a tertiary care children's hospital. Perceptions of RRT communication were assessed by using a 5-point Likert scale, and qualitative comments were collected. Responses were compared between RRTm (responder nurses and intensive care fellows) and FP (floor nurses and resident physicians).
Results:
Survey response was 64% (18 of 28) for RRTm and 70% (194 of 278) for FP. RRTm gave lower ratings than FP for communication of: (1) the purpose of the call; (2) airway and breathing; (3) circulation; (4) background information; and (5) possible diagnosis and treatment. RRTm were more likely than FP to indicate that description of background information delayed communication of critical management problems ("often": RRTm, 7 of 17 [41%]; FP, 23 of 175 [13%]; "always": RRTm, 2 of 18 [12%]; FP, 19 of 175 [11%]; P=.001 for overall comparison). A structured approach for communication was generally supported, although less strongly among floor nurses. Themes from qualitative responses included role confusion, fractured room entry, and a dismissive attitude by RRTm.
Conclusions:
A disconnect in perceived quality of communication was observed between RRTm and FP at pediatric rapid response events. A structured approach with well-defined roles may improve communication quality.
Related Concept Videos
01:29SBAR I: Understanding the Concept
Standardized methods of communication have been developed to ensure that information is...
01:26Types of Reports III: Telephone and Verbal Reports
Here's an overview of each type:
Telephone Orders
01:21Types of Reports II: Incident or Occurrence Report
Purposes:
In the healthcare industry, reports play a crucial role in documenting incidents within an agency. The primary objective of these reports is to ensure patient safety, uphold the...
01:14SBAR II: Application of SBAR
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
01:21Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
01:23Assessment of Respiration
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like...