Communication Barriers between Nurses and Patients during Hospitalization in Saudi Arabia

Sanaa B Barnawi^1, and Amina B Barnawi²

¹Critical Care Unit, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

²Surgical and urology Clinic, King Faisal Specialist Hospital, Riyad, Saudi Arabia

Cite this paper:
Sanaa B Barnawi and Amina B Barnawi. Communication Barriers between Nurses and Patients during Hospitalization in Saudi Arabia. American Journal of Nursing Research. 2023; 11(2):87-92. doi: 10.12691/ajnr-11-2-3

Abstract

Background: Effective communication fosters a good therapeutic relationship between the nurses and the patients as well as family and relatives. Regarding this, there is a need to understand both parties' sentiments and psychological capacities. Aim of the study: This study aims to investigate communication barrier issues faced in Saudi Arabia medical facilities. Subjects and Methods: It is cross-sectional descriptive design was used for the study. Two populations were used for the present study and encompassed patients and registered nurses of diverse backgrounds, gender, ages, and professional experience. The sample population comprised of a total of 226 participants. The community encompassed 120 patients and 106 registered nurses working in different capacities in the medical sector. Two types of questionnaires were provided that involve patients and nurses. Each of the questionnaire was adopted with consent from ‘Assessment of Patients and Nurses' Opinions on the Bidirectional Communication during Hospitalization. Results: the result showed that that misunderstandings were experienced based on language difference. Those assigned high number of patients (who were the majority), reported fatigue and lack of enough time. language is reportedly the greatest barrier of communication between the patients and nurses. The ability of the nurse to develop a relationship with the patient was also a barrier that developed from the attitudes of the patients, among other factors. Conclusion: This study concluded that Efficient and interactive communication is necessary to achieve satisfactory nurse-patient relationship. From the research findings, it is the role of the nurse to facilitate the development of this relationship by dealing with the barriers hindering their communication.

Keywords:
communication barriers

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Peleki, Theodosia, et al. Assessment of Patients and Nurses' Opinions on the Bidirectional Communication During Hospitalization: A Descriptive Study. Health Science Journal, 2015, 9.3: 1.
[2]	Shafipour Vida, MOHAMMAD, Eesa; AHMADI, Fazlollah. Barriers to nurse-patient communication incardiac surgery wards: a qualitative study. Global journal of health science, 2014, 6.6: 234.
[3]	Anoosheh M, et al. Nurse–patient communication barriers in Iranian nursing. International nursing review, 2009, 56.2: 243-249.
[4]	Ardalan Farasat, et al. Barriers of nurse-patient communication from the nurses' point of view in educational hospitals affiliated to Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. Nursing Practice Today, 2018, 5.3: 326-334.
[5]	Kourkouta L, Papathanasiou, V. Communication in nursing practice. Materia socio-medica, 2014, 26.1: 65.
[6]	Wang Y, et al. Interventions to improve communication between nurses and physicians in the intensive care unit: An integrative literature review. International journal of nursing sciences, 2018, 5.1: 81-88.
[7]	O'halloran R, GROHN, Brooke; WORRALL, Linda. Environmental factors that influence communication for patients with a communication disability in acute hospital stroke units: a qualitative metasynthesis. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 2012, 93.1: S77-S85.
[8]	Patak L, et al. Improving patient-provider communication: a call to action. The Journal of nursing administration, 2009, 39.9: 372.
[9]	Smeltzer, Suzanne C.; AVERY, Colleen; HAYNOR, Patricia. Interactions of people with disabilities and nursing staff during hospitalization. AJN The American Journal of Nursing, 2012, 112.4: 30-37.
[10]	King, Barbara J, et al. The consequences of poor communication during transitions from hospital to skilled nursing facility: a qualitative study. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2013, 61.7: 1095-1102.
[11]	Michel, Philippe. Strengths and weaknesses of available methods for assessing the nature and scale of harm caused by the health system: literature review. World Health Organization, 2003.
[12]	Dubb, Rolf, et al. Barriers and strategies for early mobilization of patients in intensive care units. Annals of the American Thoracic Society, 2016, 13.5: 724-730.
[13]	Diedenhofen, Birk; MUSCH, Jochen. cocron: A Web Interface and R Package for the Statistical Comparison of Cronbach's Alpha Coefficients. International Journal of Internet Science, 2016, 11.1.
[14]	Park E, SONG, M. Communication barriers perceived by older patients and nurses. International journal of nursing studies, 2005, 42.2: 159-166.
[15]	Weller, Jennifer; BOYD, Matt; CUMIN, David. Teams, tribes and patient safety: overcoming barriers to effective teamwork in healthcare. Postgraduate medical journal, 2014, 90.1061: 149-154.
[16]	Colaco, Carla Alexandra Amorim; PONTÍFICE-SOUSA, Patrícia Cruz; MARQUES, Rita. The smile as a promoting instrument of comfort in hospitalized patients: a literature review. International Journal of Nursing, 2016, 3.2: 53-56.
[17]	Cadogan, Mary P, et al. Barriers to effective communication in skilled nursing facilities: differences in perception between nurses and physicians. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 1999, 47.1: 71-75.