COMMUNICATION BARRIERS PERCEIVED BY NURSE AND PATIENT

Abstract

Background: Objective: To highlight the communication barriers to effective communication between nurse and patients and to know the reasons behind the communication errors between nurse and patients. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Independent University Hospital Faisalabad. Period: Jan 2018 to Mar 2018. Material and Method: This research was quantitative; a self-administered questionnaire was the tool to analyze the communication barriers perceived by nurses and patients. The target population of this study was consisted on 50 Nurses and 50 patients at Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology, Faisalabad were the target population of the current study. Results: Two separate questionnaires were used for nurses and patients, and the reliability and validity of the questionnaires were assessed. In both groups of nurses and patients, nurse-related factors (mean scores of 2.39 and 2.05, respectively) and common factors between nurses and patients (mean scores of 1.79 and 1.89, respectively) were considered the most and least significant factors, respectively. Also, a significant difference was observed between the mean scores of nurses and patients regarding patient-related (p=0.001), nurse-related (p=0.012), and environmental factors (p=0.019). Despite the attention of nurses and patients to communication, there are some barriers, which can be removed through raising the awareness of nurses and patients along with creating a desirable environment. We recommend that nurses be effectively trained in communication skills and be encouraged by constant monitoring of the obtained skills. Conclusion: This is suggested that upgrading medical clinics and facilities, holding periodic workshops of communication skills, holding nursing quality assurance committees, and most importantly, changing attitudes of nursing managers and administrators from offering task-based services toward following a holistic approach could be beneficiary for the healthcare system.