Comparison of two types of communication methods used after cardiac surgery with patients with endotracheal tubes

In this study we compared two types of communication techniques (planned and unplanned) for effectiveness in communication in the early postoperative intubation period with patients who had cardiac surgery. In this quasi-experimental study we used a sample of 40 patients undergoing open heart surgery who participated in preoperative teaching. The control group (n = 20) relied on the experience and creativity of the nurse to provide a method of postoperative communication. The experimental group (n = 20) was introduced to a communication board before surgery and used the board during the postoperative intubation period. Each patient completed an open-ended patient interview, a patient satisfaction questionnaire, and a visual analogue scale to assess satisfaction with communication after discharge from the intensive care unit. An independent t test indicated that a planned method of communication does significantly increase patient satisfaction in the early postoperative intubation period (t = 2.09, p = 0.05, n = 35). Content analyses of the patient interviews further supported this finding. Validity of the patient satisfaction questionnaire was supported by a high correlation (r = 0.70) with results from the visual analogue scale. Nurse satisfaction with communication during intubation was analyzed by use of a nurse satisfaction questionnaire and open-ended questions that were completed by the nurse after caring for the patients in this study. A dependent t test (t = 1.25, not significant, n = 20) and content analysis indicated that planned communication did not increase nurse satisfaction; however, it did add to the repertoire of methods that nurses currently use in trying to communicate with their patients.