Interventions to Improve Nurse-Family Communication in the Emergency Department: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: Family members often accompany patients to the emergency department and play an important role in caring for the patient. Communication between nurses and family members has long been identified as a priority of care and an area needing improvement due to the increasingly busy nature of the emergency department. Good communication can improve patient outcomes, satisfaction with care and decrease patient and family anxiety. Objective: To determine and describe what interventions exist to improve nurse-family communication during the waiting period of an emergency department visit. Methods: A scoping review was completed following the Joanna Briggs Institution methodology: (1) identify the research question, (2) define the inclusion criteria, (3) use a search strategy to identify relevant studies using a three-step approach, (4) select studies using a team approach, (5) data extraction, (6) data analysis, and (7) presentation of results. Results: The search yielded 1,771 articles of which 20 were included in the review. An additional 7 articles were found in the grey literature search. Results were analyzed using basic content analysis, reported using tables, figures, descriptive statistics and narrative synthesis and organized based on Peplau's Theory of Interpersonal Relations. A variety of pediatric and adult interventions were found targeting staff members and family members and took place worldwide. Two models were developed based on the results of this review: a communication model for triage nurses and one for all emergency department nurses. Conclusion: Communication plays an essential role in emergency department nursing care. Communication skills training should be built into nursing curriculum, nursing orientation, triage training, and continuing education. Future research should focus on evaluating the effectiveness of interventions using a standardized scale, understanding the specific needs of family members and effectively teaching communication skills to emergency department nurses.