Email this article 
Hide
Show all
Original Research
Nurses’ perspectives about communication with patients in an intensive care setting using a communication board: A pilot study
Submitted: 26 March 2018 | Published: 25 July 2019
About the author(s)
Martelize Gropp, Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South AfricaEnsa Johnson, Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Juan Bornman, Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
Rajinder Koul, Centre for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; and, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Moody College of Communication, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States
Abstract
Background: Communication in the intensive care setting (ICS) is critical for both the patient and the medical staff to provide efficient care and thus alleviate possible patient adverse effects. Persons with complex communication needs are particularly vulnerable in ICSs and therefore require additional communication support.
Aim: This study focused on the perspectives of nurses about communication with patients with communication needs in ICSs using paper-based communication boards, namely the translated Vidatak EZ Board, before and after a training session.
Setting: A 1650-bed public hospital with a 26-bed ICS in a semi-urban, low socio-economic area in South Africa served as the research setting.
Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-test post-test group design with withdrawal and a control group was used. Data were gathered using a custom-designed questionnaire completed by ICS nurse participants recruited from a public hospital.
Results: Responses of some nurses did not change in post-test 1, but their responses did change in post-test 2. Some of the nurses’ perspectives changed, as expected from the pre-test to post-test 1. Nurses recommended specific adaptations to the communication board.
Conclusions: Most nurses agreed that communication is crucial in ICSs and that a communication board can be implemented; however, limited success was observed implementing the board following a short training. The inter-professional collaboration between nurses and speech-language therapists to provide optimal health care to patients in ICS is emphasised.
Keywords
Metrics
Total abstract views: 10644Total article views: 8758
Crossref Citations
1. Needs Communicative Digital Technology Program for Intubated Patients with Critical Illnesses: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Nuttapol Chaihan, Winthanyou Bunthan
Pacific Rim International Journal of Nursing Research vol: 27 issue: 3 first page: 601 year: 2023
doi: 10.60099/prijnr.2023.262313
2. Criterios Para Iniciar la Succión Nutritiva en Un Neonato con Dificultades Respiratorias Una Revisión Literaria
Rosa Paola Leguizamo Galvis
Areté vol: 21 issue: 1 first page: 65 year: 2021
doi: 10.33881/1657-2513.art.21106
3. Exploring Communication Needs and Challenges in the Intensive Care Unit: A Survey Study From Providers' and Patients' Perspectives
Cheng Cheng, Lana Schommer, Micheal Tarver, Mimi LaValley, Nina Lemieux, Marissa Mery, Rajinder Koul
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology vol: 33 issue: 5 first page: 2311 year: 2024
doi: 10.1044/2024_AJSLP-23-00385
4. Assessment of communicative competence in adult patients with minimum response in intensive care units: A scoping review
Ana Pinto, Mariely Lima, João Lindo Simões
International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders vol: 59 issue: 6 first page: 2383 year: 2024
doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.13088
5. Augmentative and Alternative Communication Interventions in Critical and Acute Care With Mechanically Ventilated and Tracheostomy Patients: A Scoping Review
Mimi LaValley, Tiffany Chavers-Edgar, Mengxuan Wu, Ralf Schlosser, Rajinder Koul
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology vol: 33 issue: 5 first page: 2667 year: 2024
doi: 10.1044/2024_AJSLP-23-00310
6. Nurses' perspectives on alternative communication strategies use in critical care units
Ensa Johnson, Tanya Heyns, Stefan Nilsson
Nursing in Critical Care vol: 27 issue: 1 first page: 120 year: 2022
doi: 10.1111/nicc.12612
7. Evaluation of the effectiveness of a training programme for nurses regarding augmentative and alternative communication with intubated patients using Kirkpatrick's model: A pilot study
Marzieh Momennasab, Fatemeh Mohammadi, Fereshteh DehghanRad, Azita Jaberi
Nursing Open vol: 10 issue: 5 first page: 2895 year: 2023
doi: 10.1002/nop2.1531
8. A Scoping Review of the Evidence on Disability Accommodations Targeting Equitable Communication Access in Health Care
Jennifer Y. Oshita, Megan E. Schliep, Natalie F. Douglas, Liliane B. Savard, Julie L. Feuerstein, Charles D. MacLean, Megan A. Morris
American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology vol: 34 issue: 3 first page: 1493 year: 2025
doi: 10.1044/2024_AJSLP-24-00234
9. Validación de un tablero de comunicación en el contexto hospitalario
Marly Yuliana Monterrey Gómez, Ginna Viviana Pérez Reyes, Elsa Gómez Rojas, Miriam Lizeth Romero Ruiz, Andreina Constanza Vera Antolínez, Nixon Albeiro Zambrano Medina
Revista Perspectivas vol: 8 issue: S2 first page: 15 year: 2023
doi: 10.22463/25909215.4596
10. Attitudes toward the use of low-tech AAC in acute settings: a systematized review
Shaeron Murray, Suzanne C. Hopf
Augmentative and Alternative Communication vol: 38 issue: 3 first page: 184 year: 2022
doi: 10.1080/07434618.2022.2122870
11. Posturografía En Niños Entre 6 -11 Años Con Edad Auditiva No Compensada
Karen Dinaluz Prado Ortiz, Amanda Teresa Páez Pinilla, Diana Marcela Suárez Méndez, Irma Carvajalino Monje, Yadira Grimaldos Franco
Areté vol: 21 issue: 1 first page: 1 year: 2021
doi: 10.33881/1657-2513.art21101
12. Posturografía En Niños Entre 6 -11 Años Con Edad Auditiva No Compensada
Karen Dinaluz Prado Ortiz, Amanda Teresa Páez Pinilla, Diana Marcela Suárez Méndez, Irma Carvajalino Monje, Yadira Grimaldos Franco
Areté vol: 21 issue: 1 first page: 1 year: 2021
doi: 10.33881/1657-2513.art.21101
13. Communication Methods Used with Conscious Intubated Patients: Scoping Review
Mahuya Karmakar, Santhna Letchmi Panduragan, Faridah Mohd Said
The Open Nursing Journal vol: 18 issue: 1 year: 2024
doi: 10.2174/0118744346349706241112070527
14. The competence of novice nurses in providing health education to patients in South Africa
Thembekile Purity Skakane-Masango, Sandiso Ngcobo
International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147- 4478) vol: 11 issue: 8 first page: 350 year: 2022
doi: 10.20525/ijrbs.v11i8.2131
15. Criterios Para Iniciar la Succión Nutritiva en Un Neonato con Dificultades Respiratorias Una Revisión Literaria
Rosa Paola Leguizamo Galvis
Areté vol: 21 issue: 1 first page: 65 year: 2021
doi: 10.33881/1657-2513.art21106
16. Feasibility of implementing a communication board to improve communication interactions of mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care units at one Sri Lankan hospital − A pilot randomised controlled trial
Nipuna R. Kuruppu, Wendy Chaboyer, Georgia Tobiano, Anuja Abayadeera, Kristen Ranse
Intensive and Critical Care Nursing vol: 87 first page: 103891 year: 2025
doi: 10.1016/j.iccn.2024.103891