Perceived professional support and the use of blocking behaviours by hospice nurses

Abstract

A prospective study of the impact of training 41 hospice nurses in assessment skills was used to test hypotheses that blocking behaviours would be used more when patients disclosed feelings and used less when nurses perceived that they had satisfactory professional support. Each nurse was asked to assess a patient's current problems before and after feedback training and 8 months later. Audiotape recordings of these interviews were rated by trained raters. They determined the frequency of nurses' responses which had the function of blocking patient disclosure and the emotional level of patient disclosure. Before each patient assessment each nurse was interviewed and questionnaires administered to measure her perceptions of the support she received. Blocking behaviours were most evident when patients disclosed their feelings (Kendalls r = 0.36, P < 0.001). In interviews containing most patient disclosure of feeling, blocking was significantly less (r = -0.24, P < 0.5) when the nurse felt that practical help would be available if needed and when the nurse felt that her direct supervisor was concerned about the nurse's own welfare (r = -0.37, P < 0.005).

Evaluation of communication training programs in nursing care: a review of the literature

“…use of the newly acquired skills in practice, formed a barrier in putting the skills learned into practice; In this study, an overview is presented of fourteen Booth et al [19] reported that a positive work evaluation studies of communication training proenvironment led to increased use of facilitating grams for nurses. Most of the studies reviewed behaviours, which means the nurses ability to assess showed limited effects on nurses' behavioural and clarify patients' concerns.…”

“…In the study by Booth et al [19] and • It was published as a thesis or in a scientific Grond and Visser [9], it was reported that all ward journal.…”

“…Booth et al [19] found that nurses used blocking 3.1.2.2. Didactic strategies behaviours less frequently when they received practiIn the selected studies, theoretical and / or practical cal and emotional support from their supervisors.…”

“…With regard to the patient outcomes, the instru-3.2.2.2. Measuring other nurse outcomes ments used in the study by La Monica et al [19] in The studies by Ravazi et al [14,18] are the only order to measure patient satisfaction and depression studies in which communication skills were taught have proved reliable and valid in the literature. No but not explicitly measured as an outcome variable.…”

“…From the study by Booth et al [19] and Heaven One study [21] reported the importance of giving and Maguire [28], it appeared that even after the the participants feedback on their performance in a training, nurses were no better in identifying what 'safe environment'. This included first giving the cancer patients concerns were.…”