Relationship between Nurses’ Communication and Levels of Anxiety and Depression among Patient’s Family in the Emergency Department - Abstract
Background: Communication is an integral part in everyday life. Nurse’s communication in a high pressure area like emergency department is challenging for the delivery of quality care.
Aim: To assess the relationship between communication of nurses, and level of anxiety and depression among patient’s family in the emergency department in Riyadh.
Methods: A quantitative descriptive correlation cross section research design was utilized on a convenience sample of 307. Data collected using a questionnaire survey consisted of three parts: a demographic data sheet, Health Care Communication Questionnaire (HCCQ) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS). Prior to collecting the data IRB approval was granted and an informed written consent was secured from each participant. Participants were assured about the confidentiality and anonymity of all collected data. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0.
Results: The nurses’ communication questionnaire scores revealed the following: 82.1% reported nurses treated them with kindness, 74.3% reported that nurses were calm, 83% stated that nurses showed respect, 60.7% reported that nurses maintained eye contact and 74.3% reported that the information given by nurses was clear. HADS scores revealed that 21.5% had abnormal hospital anxiety, 28% had abnormal hospital depression, 24.8% had borderline hospital anxiety and 29.6% had borderline hospital depression.
Conclusion: Findings of this study suggest that one of the most essential needs of family members of a patient in the emergency department is accessing information, and this information should be communicated effectively by the nurses as this would help in reducing the anxiety and depression among family members.