Nurse-patient communications in emergency departments at Hebron governorate, Palestine

Abstract EN

Background: Nurse-patient communication is a process in which the nurse consciously influences the patients or helps them in better understanding through verbal and nonverbal communication, while encouraging patients to express their feelings and ideas.

However, knowing barriers of communications between the nurse and the patient may help to develop appropriate strategies for adjusting and further training that can be carried out to educate nurses on communication obstacle, and equip them with strong communication skills.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess nurse–patient communications by nurses working in the emergency departments.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the emergency departments of three hospitals in Hebron governorate, Palestine.

A close ended questionnaire was used to collect data.

One-way ANOVA for mean difference by socio- demographic characteristics and multivariable linear regressions was conducted.

Result: The findings revealed that workload on the part of nurses, lack of time, and lack of empathy from nurses were the main important perceived barriers to communication reported by nurses.

No significant difference was found between male and female nurses in their pereption of communication barriers.

The study showed that the barriers of communication among nurses and patients are intermediate.

In addition, barriers related to the health system scored intermediate also at the emergency units.

The analysis showed that the age of the nurse was associated with barriers (P<0.05).