Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2025
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Health communication and shared decision-making between nurses and older adults in community setting: An integrative
Araceli Expósito-Jiménez1, J M Alcaide-Leyva1, María Del Rocío Jiménez-Mérida1
1Department of Nursing, Pharmacology and Physiotherapy, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of Córdoba (UCO), Córdoba, Andalucía, Spain.
Aim:
To explore the role of health communication in Shared Decision-Making (SDM) between nursing staff and older people in the community setting.
Background:
Society and healthcare services are marked by an exponentially ageing population, leading to a significant proportion of patients being older adults with highly demanding care needs. Scientific literature supports shared decision-making as a process that engages patients in their care. However, the increasing use of technology and the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have influenced how nurses communicate with older patients. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how to develop health communication to reach effective, shared decision-making processes.
Methods:
Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review method, the literature search comprised five databases: PubMed, CINALH, Web of Science, Scopus and PsycINFO.
Results:
The 12 included studies were synthesised into three study patterns: (1) nurse-older patient health communication relationship, (2) older patients' perspectives and (3) nontherapeutic communication in end-of-life care.
Conclusion:
This review underscored the crucial role of effective health communication in shaping SDM dynamics between nursing staff and older people in the community setting. Key elements included transparent information exchange, establishing trust and maintaining communication channels with informal caregiving networks. SDM actions were aligned with preserving older people's autonomy, but communication challenges persisted, particularly in end-of-life situations. Advanced care planning was recommended to address these shortcomings and improve communication among older people, healthcare professionals and families.
Implications:
Implementing educational measures based on verbal and nonverbal health communication in nursing training could be beneficial. Nursing research could continue to develop and refine specific communication strategies adapted to the social determinants of health for diverse clinical situations regarding older adults in the community setting.
Reporting Method:
The authors have adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines through the PRISMA 2020 checklist. No Patient or Public Contribution.
Related Concept Videos
01:08Role of Communication in the Nursing Process III: Evaluation and Documentation
01:25Role of Communication in the Nursing Process II: Planning and Implementation
01:27Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:25Role of Communication in the Nursing Process I: Assessment and Diagnosis
The nursing process considers the patient's emotional and physical well-being. The process can be repeated or stopped at any point if judged essential. Assessment is the first step in the nursing...
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
01:29Levels of Communication I: Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Small Group
We can participate in these relationships through verbal, nonverbal, and mediated communication. We engage in verbal communication when we use words during our interaction to convey specific meanings. On the other hand, nonverbal communication refers to various factors that can impact how we understand each other—for example, facial expressions.
We interact with others using mediated technologies like the...