Communication skills intervention: promoting effective communication between nurses and mechanically ventilated...

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Critical Care Medicine
• Health Communication

Background:

• Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients face communication barriers, often due to mechanical ventilation, leading to psychological distress.
• Effective nurse-patient communication is essential for personalized care and positive patient outcomes.
• Communication difficulties can exacerbate anxiety, fear, and depression in critically ill patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore intensive care nurses' experiences with a communication skills training intervention.
• To understand the impact of training on nurses' communication practices and patient interactions.
• To identify key themes related to the implementation and effectiveness of communication training.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative thematic content analysis of interviews.
• Convenience sampling of twenty intensive care nurses.
• Exploration of nurses' lived experiences with communication training.

Main Results:

• Nurses accepted new knowledge and skills from workshops.
• Management support and appreciation for augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices were noted.
• Themes included attitude changes, knowledge sharing, and integrating training into orientation.

Conclusions:

• Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices and strategies enhance nurse-patient communication in ICUs.
• Communication skills training should be encouraged and integrated into ICU nursing education.
• Improved communication positively impacts patient psychological well-being and overall care quality.