الملخص الإنجليزي
Abstract:
Background
Communication with others is essential for the comfort and well-being of any human
being (Ashworth 1987). In an intensive care environment, the majority of patients are
unable to communicate normally, because of their being sedated, paralysed and
intubated or due to mechanical ventilation (Hagland 1995). Hence, in an intensive
care unit communication between nurses and patients is likely to be as vital as it is
difficult (Ashworth 1981). This study was a partial replication of Ashworth's (1980)
study, investigating critical care nurses' verbal and non-verbal communication with
mechanically ventilated patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) in Bahrain.
Objectives
The general aim of this study was to investigate critical care nurses' verbal and non-
verbal communication with mechanically ventilated patients in an intensive care unit
in one hospital in Bahrain. The particular objectives of the study were to describe the
verbal and non-verbal communication and to explore the nurses' perceptions and
attitudes towards this communication. The research questions of the study were 'What
is the content of nurses' communication with mechanically ventilated patients and
how much time is spent in this communication'? The second question was 'What are
the attitudes and perceptions of nurses on verbal and non-verbal communication with
mechanically ventilated patients'?
Method
This research study was descriptive-exploratory in nature using both quantitative and
qualitative approaches. Observation and interviews were the two methods that were
used to conduct this research. A non-probability convenience sampling method was
used and ten nurses were observed and interviewed. The data from observation was
analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Scientist version 10.0 (SPSS
10.0) for windows and Microsoft excel version 2002. The data from the interviews
was analysed by using a method of thematic content analysis, suggested by Burnard
(1991).
Findings
Analysis indicated that the minimum time spent in verbal communication was 35
seconds and the maximum time 4 minutes and 33 seconds in a 2-hour observation. A
great part of this communication involved informing the patients about the immediate
procedure being performed, providing reassurance and request or command. Touch
was used by only seven nurses and the maximum times touch used was 4 times during
a 2 hour observation period. The barriers to communication identified by nurses were
the condition of the patient, language barrier, nurses' emotional status and their
workload and finally emotional status of the patients. All the nurses felt frustrated
with difficult communication and reported that communication with patients,
particularly touch, is influenced by their religious and cultural beliefs. Most nurses
felt that communication is important in the intensive care unit.
Conclusion
This study has evaluated an area of practice that was not previously investigated in
Bahrain. Findings of this study may increase awareness about communication in the
intensive care unit and improve practice in Bahrain.
