An exploration of student nurses attitudes towards communication with elderly patients on acute medical wards

Abstract

Communication between nurses and patients has been extensively researched and written about over the last thirty years or more. The reviewed literature indicated that communication with the elderly on acute medical wards may be affected by students' education in communication, the effect of ageism and the context of care in the medical wards. However there appeared to be a gap in the literature regarding student nurses' attitudes towards communication with the elderly patient in the acute medical ward. Thus the present study is an attempt to investigate this issue. A descriptive, exploratory approach was used utilising a questionnaire incorporating a 'vignette' of an elderly patient on an acute medical ward. This provided both qualitative and quantitative data. A convenience sample of 22 diploma nursing students during lecturing hours was used, which provided a 100% response rate. The findings indicated that the participants generally held positive attitudes towards communicating with elderly patients on acute medical wards and were largely satisfied with their education on nurse communication. However they frequently identified constraints to interaction with elderly patients on medical wards such as the context of the acute medical ward, ethical issues such as ageism and unpopularity, the nursing curriculum and perceptions of communication as therapeutic nursing 'work'. Findings and limitations of the study were discussed. Recommendations were made to improve student nurses' education practice and research in communication with the elderly on acute medical wards.