Feasibility of a coaching program on improving communication at a psychogeriatric nursing home ward: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Communication is fundamental to understand patients’ preferences, feelings, and to establish their care needs. Because of the affected communication in people with dementia, the guidance of them in daily care through communication can be difficult for nursing staff. A coaching program, using team-meetings, assignments, observation periods and newsletters, is developed to potentially improve communication between nursing staff and dementia patients. Research aim: The aim was to assess the feasibility of the first phase of the coaching program from the perspectives of nursing staff of a psychogeriatric ward, in terms of acceptability, dose delivered, dose received, satisfaction and context. Method: A generic qualitative, descriptive feasibility study was carried out in March and April 2018. All nursing staff of the included ward were asked to participate if they were eligible. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and field notes. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: A total of 13 nursing staff members were interviewed, and they found the first phase of the program acceptable. Staff members were not always present during CP meetings/assignments, which influenced their knowhow. According to dose received, NS would have found it pleasant to get reminders and that information was provided in different manners. Nursing staff was satisfied with their renewed awareness of the importance of communication. Contextual factors were experienced workload, willingness to change and team culture. Conclusion: The first phase of the coaching program is a feasible part of the intervention according to nursing staff. Changes are proposed to the CP to optimize the program for future implementation. Recommendations: Improving feasibility can be achieved by a better information providing system and individual feedback, to preserve the observation period and team-meetings, and to skip the digital newsletters. The role of the frontrunners should be more explicitly formulated. Future research should examine how communication can be more integrated in daily nursing care.