Communication training program for nurses caring for patients with aphasia: a quasi-experimental study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Health Communication
• Aphasia Management

Background:

• Nurses play a critical role in communicating with patients who have aphasia.
• Effective communication skills for nurses are essential for improving patient outcomes and the care environment.
• Aphasia presents unique challenges in patient-nurse interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a communication training program for nurses caring for patients with aphasia.
• To enhance nurses' ability to effectively communicate with individuals experiencing aphasia.
• To improve the quality of care provided to patients with aphasia through enhanced nursing communication.

Main Methods:

• The communication training program was developed using the Intervention Mapping Protocol.
• Program effectiveness was assessed via a quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group.
• Methods included simulations with standardized patients with aphasia and pre- and post-training surveys.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant differences were observed between the trained group and the control group.
• Improvements were noted in health communication competence, knowledge of aphasia, patient advocacy, clinical decision-making, and compassionate competence.
• The training positively impacted nurses' knowledge, attitude, and skills related to aphasia communication.

Conclusions:

• The developed communication training program is effective in enhancing nurses' skills for caring for patients with aphasia.
• Communication education is crucial for providing comprehensive care and improving nursing practice for this patient population.
• The training contributes to better patient advocacy and compassionate care through improved communication strategies.