Communication Problems and Expectations Between Nurses and Patients: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this research is to determine the ways of communication between nurses and patients, the relevant problems, and expectations. Method: The research was carried out within the scope of qualitative research model and using the case study design. Observation and semi-structured interview methods were used in the study. In this context, interviews and observations were made with five nurses working in a university hospital clinic and five inpatients in December 2019. In the analysis of qualitative data obtained from observations and interviews, themes were created using the content analysis method. Results: The research was presented as findings on semi-structured interviews and observations together with introductory features. Findings obtained as a result of the interviews were analyzed as two main themes, three subthemes and codes under each subtheme. Conclusion: To establish a better communication as a result of the research; significant findings were obtained related to the issues of establishing mutual empathy, increasing the level of education, taking patient complaints seriously, increasing the number of employees by improving the technological equipment of institutions, ensuring coordination by creating an atmosphere of trust, nurses' doing their job lovingly, gaining therapeutic communication skills, and especially explaining medical terms in a comprehensible manner.

Keywords

• nursing
• communication problems
• nurse-patient communication