JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Admission to a hospital can be a very stressful and anxiety-provoking experience, as patients face many unknowns that can compromise autonomy, physical and psychological well-being. Patient-centred care necessitates that health care organizations and professionals actively comprehend patients’ experiences and values, for which effective training in communication skills is essential. This study will contribute to this field of research by evaluating a therapeutic communication training program developed for nurses in acute admission wards. The training consists of online e-learning providing insights into important concepts of therapeutic communication. This will be followed by a VR patient-embodied experience that is shown to make nurses feel what it is like to become a patient themselves during a 1-day didactic training with experiential small groups. Theory on therapeutic communication is taught on how to use rapid rapport techniques and hypnotic and suggestive language to facilitate empathy. This is combined with practical exercises, ensuring an active learning process.

Objective:

By integrating these diverse blended learning training methods, the program aims to enhance nurses' communication skills, ultimately improving patient care in the acute admissions ward.

Methods:

Applying Kirkpatrick’s training evaluation model, this prospective study will use a convergent mixed method study design in which qualitative and quantitative data are used. Qualitative data will include field work, as well as individual and focus group interviews with the participating nurses. The quantitative data will include questionnaires that include Kirkpatrick’s two first levels and that are validated for this purpose.

Results:

On the 8th of February we received permission of the authorising authorities (Institutional Science Committee NWMO Commissie divisie 1) to start our study. Data collection has started in April 2024 and we aim to finish data collection in the fall 2024.

Conclusions:

This study will systematically evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic communication training in the acute admission ward for patients who require emergency treatment. The results will yield insights into the feasibility and acceptance of the implementation of therapeutic communication training among nurses in an acute admission ward in the Netherlands. Clinical Trial: The protocol was approved by the Institutional Science Committee as well as the non-WMO committee and adhered to GCP regulations.