Authors (including presenting author) :
Leung NS, Chan TC, Lee WSB, Wong LY, Kwong KYT
Affiliation :
Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine Department, Princess Margret Hospital
Introduction :
“ICE BREAKING” interpersonal communication skill approach facilitates effective communication between nurses and adolescent patients in Paediatric wards. This approach plays a crucial role to enhance nurse-patient communication for early identification of patient’s problems, provision of emotional support, effective illness management and health education. “ICE BREAKING” approach involves development of Immediate rapport and sense of Comfort and Emotional support & safety to patients which are prerequisites for open and engaging communication between nurse and adolescent patients. Communication should Be non-judgmental, Reassuring and Empathetic with Active listening, acKnowledging adolescent patients’ concerns & emotions, provide autonomy and resource, avoid unnecessary Interruption during conversion, often use of Non-verbal clues, Get them involved. In 2022, an evidence-based nursing practice project was conducted to explore effective communication strategies to enhance nurses’ competency to care for adolescent patients.
Objectives :
1. To enhance nurses’ confidence to communicate with adolescent in-patients.
2. To enhance nurses’ interpersonal communication skills with adolescent patients using “ICE BREAKING” skill approach.
Methodology :
A “Pre-test” vs. “Post-test” design was adopted and an “ICE BREAKING” communication skill approach education training was conducted in one General Paediatric ward. A pre- and post-staff survey on self-confidence (five-point Likert scale) in communicating effectively with adolescent in-patients was developed. Training program was designed with ICE BREAKING communication technique with emphasis on immediate rapport building, provision of comfort, emotional safety, empathy, active listening, clarification, adolescent involvement, HEADSSS assessment tool & community resources and common adolescent mental disorders and related care etc. Post-staff survey was conducted right after the training. In addition, staffs’ hands-on practice with adolescent in-patients with learnt communication skills were monitored with focus on “ICE BREAKING” strategies after the training.
Result & Outcome :
From April 2023 to June 2023, 27 nurses had received communication training. About 40.7% of nurses with nursing experience less than 4 years. The overall nurses’ rating score on self-confidence of effective communication with adolescent in-patients had increased from 2.7 to 4.25. Post-training hands-on practice had demonstrated improve adolescent patient care using “ICE BREAKING” communication skills like active listening (89%), empathy (62%), open-ended questioning (48%), HEADSSS (33%), reassurance and non-verbal clues (18%).
“ICE BREAKING” interpersonal communication skill approach helps enhance nurses’ confidence and competency in communicating effectively with adolescent in-patients so that appropriate adolescent care can be provided timely.
