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Barriers to effective communication in skilled nursing facilities: differences in perception between nurses and
M P Cadogan1, C Franzi, D Osterweil
1UCLA School of Nursing, Los Angeles, CA 90095-6919, USA.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
|January 27, 1999
Summary
Physicians and nurses perceive communication barriers differently in nursing homes. Physicians see nurse competence as an issue, while nurses find physicians unpleasant, highlighting a need for improved interprofessional communication.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare communication
- Nursing home care
- Interprofessional relations
Background:
- Effective nurse-physician communication is vital for nursing home residents' care.
- Anecdotal evidence suggests communication is unsatisfactory, but empirical data are lacking.
- This pilot study aimed to quantify perceived communication barriers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare nurse and physician perceptions of communication barriers.
- To identify specific categories of communication barriers in nursing homes.
Main Methods:
- A 12-item questionnaire was administered to 59 nurses and 47 physicians.
- Perceptions of communication barriers were assessed across five categories.
- T-test analysis was used to compare responses between groups.
Main Results:
- Physicians, unlike nurses, identified nurse competence as a significant barrier.
- Nurses perceived physicians as unpleasant; both groups felt physicians undervalued nurses' opinions.
- Language comprehension and call burden were not perceived as barriers by either group.
Conclusions:
- Physician concerns about nurse competence align with findings in other settings.
- Discrepancies in perceived barriers may stem from differing professional awareness and culture.
- Addressing these communication gaps is crucial for developing effective interventions.
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