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Communication between nurses and simulated patients with cancer: evaluation of a communication training programme

https://doi.org/10.1054/ejon.2001.0139Get rights and content

Abstract

In this paper the effect of a communication training programme on the instrumental and affective communication skills employed by ward nurses during the admittance interview with recently diagnosed cancer patients was investigated. The training focused on teaching nurses skills to discuss and handle patient emotions. For this purpose, 46 nurses participated in 92 videotaped admittance interviews with simulated patients. The study had a randomized pre-test-post-test design. Multi-level analysis was used to measure the effects of the training. The results revealed that the trained nurses significantly increased asking open-ended psychosocial questions, which indicates that they were actively exploring patients' feelings. Furthermore, the patients showed a significant increase in affective communication. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that, although limited, training can induce favourable changes in the communication skills of nurses, and can even affect patient communication. Future studies should focus on the further evaluation of educational programmes to enhance communication skills.

Zusammenfassung

Die Kommunikation zwischen Pflegepersonal und simulierten Krebspatienten

In dieser Abhandlung wird die Auswirkung eines Ausbildungsprogamms zur Kommunikation auf die instrumentelle und effektive Kommunikationsfähigkeit von stationärem Pflegepersonal beim Aufnahmegespräch von Krebspatienten mit erstmals diagnostiziertem Krebs untersucht. Das Training konzentrierte sich darauf, dem Pflegepersonal Fähigkeiten zu vermitteln, um die Emotionen der Patienten zu besprechen und zu steuern.

Zu diesem Zweck nahmen 46 Krankenpfleger an 92 Video-Aufnahmegesprächen mit simulierten Patienten teil. Die Studie war willkürlich gestaltet, vor und nach Tests. Die Wirkungen des Trainings wurden durch eine Multilevel-Analyse gemessen. Die Ergebnisse zeigten, dass das so ausgebildete Personal deutlich mehr offene psycho-soziale Fragen stellte, was darauf hin deutet, dass sie die Gefühle der Patienten bewusst erforschten. Darüber hinaus zeigten die Patienten einen deutlichen Anstieg in effektiver Kommunikation.

Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung beweisen, dass das Training, wenn auch in begrenzter Weise, positive Veränderungen in den Kommunikationsfähigkeiten des Pflegepersonals hervorrufen und sogar die Kommunikation seitens des Patienten beeinflussen kann. Weitere Studien sollten sich auf die weitere Auswertung von Ausbildungsprograrnmen zur Förderung der Kommunikationsfähigkeit konzentrieren.

Resumen

Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd En este trabajo se examinó el efecto de un programa de capacitación en materia de comunicación respecto de las aptitudes importantes y efectivas de comunicación utilizadas por enfermeros de sala durante la entrevista de hospitalización de pacientes con cáncer recientemente diagnosticado. La capacitación se centró en enseñar a enfermeros las aptitudes para tratar y manejar las emociones de los pacientes. A tal efecto, 46 enfermeros participaron en 92 entrevistas de hospitalización grabadas en vı́deo con pacientes simulados. El estudio tenia un diseño aleatorizado pre-prueba pos-prueba. Se utilizó un análisis multinivel para medir los efectos de la capacitación. Los resultados revelaron que los enfermeros capacitados aumentaban significativamente la formulación de preguntas psicosociales de interpretación abierta, lo cual indica que estaban explorando activamente las emociones de los pacientes. Además, estos pacientes mostraban un aumento significativo de la comunicación efectiva. En conclusión, los resultados de este estudio demuestran que la capacitación, si bien limitada, puede inducir cambios favorables en las aptitudes de comunicación e los enfermeros, e incluso afectar la comunicación de los pacientes. Los estudios futuros se deben centrar en la evaluación adicional de programas educativos para mejorar las aptitudes de comunicación.

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    Correspondence and offprint requests to: Dr I.P.M. Kruijver, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), PO Box 1568, 3500 BN Utrecht, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 302 729 700; Fax: +31 302 729 279; E-mail: [email protected]

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