Undergraduate Nursing Students’ Communication Barriers With Patients and Their Attendants

Abstract

Communication is essential for providing efficient and necessary nursing care to patients. Ineffective communication leads to patients’ dissatisfaction, resulting in lengthier hospitalizations, higher mortality, and frustration. Furthermore, nursing students face difficulties interacting with patients and their attendants. Although numerous studies explore communication barriers between nurses and patients, nursing students’ communication with patients and attendants, depending on their units and semesters. Therefore, there is a need to explore these barriers among different students’ levels in diverse clinical settings.

Purpose: To explore nursing students’ and clinical educators’ perceptions regarding nursing students’ communication barriers while interacting with patients and their attendants. 

Methodology: This was a qualitative descriptive study conducted in Peshawar. A purposive sampling technique was used, and 33 participants were interviewed in six focused group discussions utilizing a semi-structured interview guide. The discussions were audiotaped, transcribed, and translated. Creswell and Creswell 2018 framework was used for analysis.

Finding:  Four categories emerged: (1) students’ competency gaps (lack of clinical knowledge, therapeutic communication skills, and cultural/language awareness), (2) patient/attendant-related challenges (low literacy, rude behavior, and mistrust of students), (3) gender-related barriers (cultural restrictions on opposite-gender care and veiling norms), and (4) unconducive learning environments (overcrowded wards, high workload, and lack of support from healthcare professionals).

Conclusion: Findings reveal the need for enhanced communication training, cultural competence education, and policy reforms to regulate attendants’ presence in clinical settings. Strengthening facilitator-student ratios and addressing societal perceptions of nursing could further mitigate these barriers, fostering effective student-patient interactions and improving care outcomes.