---

One of man's fundamental needs is communication. Nurses within their specialty sense this need in their relationship with their patients, even though in some cases with physical impediments e.g. the placing of bypass tubes, this relationship is endangered. This study is a quasi experimental research, whose main aim is to compare the effects of two types of communication methods on anxiety and satisfaction in patients after cardiac and bypass surgery having intubation, warded at chosen hospitals affiliated to the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. According to the specific criteria, 90 patients were randomly selected by divided into two groups (experimental and control). The researchers met all patients the day before the surgery explained the reason and use of the picture chart for the experimental group and the routine communication methods for the control group. Therefore on the day of surgery communication was established with both groups with their own particular method. Data collection was done through a questionnaire consisting of: 1) demographic specification and clinical history, 2) Spielburger's questionnaire for obvious anxiety and 3) visual analogue scale (10cm) for patient satisfaction evaluation which is undertaken the day after surgery and after extubation. The results of the χ² test and the Fisher's exact test showed significant statistical differences between the two groups concerning the level of the patient's anxiety and satisfaction. The use of the picture chart for the experimental group, decreased patient's anxiety resulting from speech disability and increased their satisfaction with their communication with nurses as compared to the control group. Considering the beneficial results from using picture charts in establishing communication with patients, nurses with the help of devices, must try to create better relationships with intubated patients in the post-surgery period and provide them with more desirable services.

---

Background & Aim: Because of importance of communication and its defects which has been observed in communication with clients, this study has been planned and done with the aim of investigation of usage of’ communication skills by midwives and its relation to client’s satisfaction.

Methods & Materials: In a correlational study 50 midwives and 400 clients were investigated. Data collection method included observing midwife- client encounter using a checklist and interviewing clients to fill out satisfaction questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics included chi- square test, fisher’s exact test and Pearson correlation (p<0/05) were used for data analysis.

Results: The results of this study showed that midwives’ communication skills (verbal and non- verbal) was undesirable (62% and 56%). There was no relation between demographic variables and midwives’ communication skills application. Just there was a relation between marital status and non-verbal communication skills application. Also clients’ satisfaction with midwives’ verbal and non-verbal communication skills (50% and 48/4%) was related meaningfully to midwives’ communication skills application. There was a relation between clients’ satisfaction and their age, educational status service they needed.

Conclusion: According to undesirable usage of communication skills by midwives, administering interim training programs for midwives is recommended. Also it seems better to include communication skills training to midwifery curriculum.

---

Background & Aim: Communication is one of the basic concepts which nursing students must learn. Nurse instructors&apos behaviors have key role on effective clinical education. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of situational leadership model on nursing students&apos communication competency.

Methods & Materials: In this before-after trial, we recruited the students who had medical & surgical practicum in the second semester and summer of 1385-86 in public hospitals in Arak. They were selected randomly and then allocated to case (n=40) and control (n=35) groups. In the first week of practicum (before), we measured the students&apos communication competency using a self-structured questionnaire. For intervention, we defined behavioral objectives and designed a diagnosis form for identifying level of maturity and a feedback form for the students. After orientation of the students with behavioral objectives, we accompanied with main instructors based on their maturity levels in caring and applied effective leadership style. Along with the practicum period, we supervised the students&apos level of maturity in different nursing care skills. In the end (after), we measured the students&apos competency. We analyzed the data in SPSS, version 13.

Results: The results showed that there was significant difference before and after the intervention (P<0.001). Also, there was significant difference between two groups (P<0.001). Self-evaluation showed no significant differences between students&apos competency in two groups (P=0.335).

Conclusion: The situational leadership model would promote nursing students&apos communication competency.

 

---

Background & Aim: It is crucial to assess communication skills among health workers using valid culture-based instruments. This study aimed to develop and assess psychometric properties of the Interpersonal Communication Skills Scale among Zanjan Health Volunteers.

Methods & Materials: In this study, a total of 191 health volunteers participated in a self-rating assessment of the Communication Skills Scale (CSS). Moreover, 14 experts were asked to rate each item based on the relevance, clarity, and simplicity. Through a literature review, we developed an instrument with 43 items. The validity of the instrument was determined using the impact item method, content validity ratio (CVR), content validity index (CVI), face validity and exploratory factor analysis. Reliability of the instrument was reported by Alpha Cronbach coefficient. The CSS finally contained 35 items, divided into two categories: general and specific communication skills.

Results: Of 43 items, those with impact item index over 1.5, CVR over 0.51, and CVI over 0.79 were considered as valid while the rest were discarded resulting in a 35-item scale. Factor analysis was carried out to determine the relationship among the items of the CSS. Exploratory factor analysis reduced the list of items to 30, which were divided into seven groups with a minimum eigenvalue of 1 for each factor, capable of predicting 68.8% of the variance. Internal reliability of the scale was determined by alpha Cronbach coefficient (0.91).

Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the CSS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessment of the communication skills among health volunteers in Zanjan. These findings could be used for developing similar instruments in other health worker groups.

---

Background & Aim: Nurses are informed from patients needs using effective mutual communications. This study aimed to explore the communication strategies between nurses and patient.

Methods & Materials: This study had a qualitative approach with the content analysis method. Participants included 23 nurses, patients and their families in medical and surgical wards of Imam Khomeini hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using interviews and observations. The first and second interviews were conducted unstructured. The semi-structured interviews were then conducted according to the derived concepts from the first and second interviews. We used observation in order to gain a deeper understanding and verifying data from interviews. The observations focused on the interactions between nurses and patients during mutual communications.

Results: A final theme was emerged through the data analysis: adaptation of nurses&apos attitudes and performances. This theme derived from three main categories: caring according to acute needs of patients, creating a professional realm, and participation. The caring according to acute needs of patients included subcategories such as identifying patients&apos acute needs and nurses&apos communication behavior. Creating the professional realm implicated on the clarifying roles and maintaining of privacy communication. Participation was defined as the audience and content.

Conclusion: The findings showed that nurses, in response to the underlying conditions of nursing care, assimilate their attitudes and performances to be able to meet their professional needs and their patients&apos needs. In fact, the main character of nurse-patient communication is nurses&apos active role and patients&apos passive role.

---

Background & Aim: Nowadays in the NICU, family-centered care is the foundation of care, and communication is at the core of family-centered care. This study aimed to compare the perceptions of nurse-mother communication between neonatal intensive care nurses and mothers of hospitalized neonates.

Methods & Materials: This is a cross-sectional study. 70 mothers of hospitalized newborns and 70 nurses working in the NICU ward of university hospitals and social security hospitals in Yazd, were selected by convenience sampling in 2015. The study questionnaires included the mothers’ and nurses’ demographic characteristics questionnaire, “nurses’ perceptions of nurse-mother communication” questionnaire and “mothers’ perceptions of nurse-mother communication” questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tests and independent t-test on SPSS software version 19.

Results: The mean age for nurses was 33.36±6.99 years and for mothers was 29.77±6.40 years. Mean score and standard deviation of perception of “nurse-mother communication” for nurses was 69±6.92 and for mothers was 57.66±11.99. Independent t-test showed statistically significant differences between mean scores (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Due to difference in nurses’ and mothers’ perceptions of nurse-mother communication, it seems necessary that interventions be designed and implemented to familiarize nurses with mothers’ expectations of quality and way of nurse-mother communication.

---

Background & Aim: Considering the importance of communication skills in nursing, we aimed to study the impact of online support and e-content on communication skills of nurses with patients.
Methods & Materials: In this quasi-experimental study with pre- and post-design, 100 nurses employed in the orthopedic wards of Chamran hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 2018 were selected randomly and assigned into two groups of 50. Both groups received the electronic content of communication skills. In the intervention group, in addition to receiving educational content, online support was provided through social media for four weeks with the presence of a psychologist, so that by asking real questions and problems or simulated scenarios, appropriate behavior in that situation was discussed. Before and eight weeks after the intervention, communication skills in the both groups were assessed by the Burton Jay's Communication Skills questionnaire, and data was compared using independent t-test and analysis of covariance.
Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in the communication skills score before the intervention, but eight weeks after receiving the e-content, the participants' scores increased in the both groups. This increase was greater in the online support group (P<0.001). In fact, online support caused a difference (0.637) in the communication skills score between the two groups.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed the provision of e-content along with online support has led to the improvement of communication skills. It is recommended that in addition to education through e-content, social media be used in the empowerment programs of the treatment team including communication skills improvement, due to their advantages such as ease of use, availability and relatively low cost.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20090127001599N27
 

---

Background & Aim: Physiological and psychological needs of intensive care unit (ICU) patients are not met due to lack of effective communication. To facilitate communication, nurses can use augmentative and alternative communication strategies (AACs). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of using these strategies on the quality of nurses’ communication with patients with endotracheal intubation in the cardiac surgery intensive care units.
Methods & Materials: In this quasi-experimental intervention study with before-after design, 70 patients (35 at each stage) who were unable to communicate verbally after heart surgery due to intubation were recruited by the convenience sampling method, and also 10 nurses in the cardiac surgery ICU were randomly selected. In the pre-intervention stage, nurses communicated with patients using conventional methods, and after training in the post-intervention stage, using AACs. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics through the SPSS software version 22.
Results: The lowest content of communication in the pre- and post-intervention stages was related to emotions, the frequency of which was higher in the post-intervention stage compared to the pre-intervention stage. The most commonly used methods in the post-intervention phase were the communication board and head gesture. In both stages, communication was mostly initiated by the patient. In the post-intervention stage, the number of times the nurse started the communication increased (P<0.05). In the post-intervention phase, patients’ and nurses’ satisfaction with communication increased (P=0.0001).
Conclusion: Training nurses about AACs and using them for the ICU patients increase the success of communication and patients’ and nurses’ satisfaction with communication. Therefore, the use of these strategies in these wards is recommended to nurses and nursing managers.