Shand R, Foster A, Baker C, O'Halloran R. Identifying communication difficulty and context-specific communication supports for patient-provider communication in a sub-acute setting: A prospective mixed methods study.
Int J Speech Lang Pathol 2024:1-20. [PMID:
38425157 DOI:
10.1080/17549507.2023.2289350]
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Abstract
PURPOSE
To identify the sub-acute rehabilitation inpatients who have communication difficulty and the range of communication supports that can facilitate communicative success.
METHOD
A prospective cohort mixed methods study was conducted on two inpatient sub-acute rehabilitation wards. Nurses screened all new admissions for communication difficulty using the Inpatient Functional Communication Interview, Screening Questionnaire (IFCI-SQ). Patients identified as having communication difficulty were interviewed by a speech-language pathologist (SLP) using the Inpatient Functional Communication Interview (IFCI). During the interview, the SLP trialled different communication supports. The number of patients who had communication difficulty on the IFCI-SQ was calculated. The number and type of communication supports that improved communication within the patient-SLP interview were calculated. Deductive-dominant qualitative content analysis was conducted on the communication supports used during the IFCI.
RESULT
Seventy patients were screened. Nurses reported communication difficulty in 45/70 (64%) of patients. A total of 15/45 patients were interviewed by an SLP using the IFCI. The provision of communication supports improved communication for all patients within the context of the patient-SLP interview.
CONCLUSION
Many sub-acute rehabilitation inpatients have communication difficulty in the hospital setting. A range of communication supports facilitated communication. These insights could inform future communication partner training (CPT) programs.
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