Communication skills training in undergraduate nursing programs in Spain

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Communication Skills Training

Background:

• Effective communication is crucial for nursing practice.
• The integration of communication skills subjects in nursing degrees requires analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the availability and distribution of communication skills subjects in Spanish nursing degree programs.
• To identify the characteristics of these subjects, including course, teaching type, and credit load.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing a systematic, documentary search of Spanish university websites.
• Data collected on communication skills subjects, course level, teaching modality (exclusive/combined), subject type (compulsory/optional), and credits.

Main Results:

• An average of 3.6 communication skills subjects were offered per institution, but content load was often low.
• Most subjects were combined (not exclusive), and a significant portion were optional.
• One-third of institutions offered fewer than 2.3 credits for communication skills, with highest load in optional subjects.

Conclusions:

• The provision of communication skills content in Spanish nursing schools is scarce and highly variable.
• The prevalence of combined and optional subjects suggests a need for standardized, dedicated communication training in nursing curricula.
• Findings can inform the development of teaching guides and competency frameworks for nursing communication skills.