Communication during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluation-Study on Self-Perceived Competences and Views of Health Care Professionals

Schlögl, Mathias; Singler, Katrin; Martinez-Velilla, Nicolas; Jan, Schildmann; Bischoff-Ferrari, Heike A.; Roller-Wirnsberger, Regina Elisabeth; Attier-Zmudka, Jadwiga; Jones, Christopher A.; Miot, Stéphanie; Gordon, Adam L.

Abstract

Purpose
The aims of this study were to describe communication experiences while wearing a mask during COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, in order to identify possible mask-related barriers to COVID-19-adapted communications and to investigate whether the ABC mnemonic (A: Attend Mindfully; B: Behave Calmly; C: Communicate Clearly) might address these.

Methods
This study was a cross-sectional, voluntary, web-based survey between January and February 2021. A 22-item survey was developed using the Surveymonkey platform and question-styles were varied to include single choice and Likert scales. The respondents were also asked to view a short video presentation, which outlined the ABC mnemonic. CHERRIES (Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys) was used to ensure completeness of reporting. Diverging stacked bar charts were created to illustrate Likert scale responses.

Results
We received 226 responses. The respondents were mostly women (60.2%) and the majority worked in a teaching hospital (64.6%). The majority of the respondents indicated issues related to lack of time during clinical encounters, uncertainty about how to adapt communication, lack of personal protective equipment, lack of communication skills and lack of information about how to adapt their own communication skills. In addition, the participants indicated acknowledging emotions and providing information using clear, specific, unambiguous, and consistent lay language while wearing a mask were among the main communication challenges created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, the study showed significantly improved self-perceived competency regarding key communication after watching the short video presentation.

Conclusion
Effective communication in medical encounters requires both verbal and nonverbal skills.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 16, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Jul 1, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Deposit Date: Jun 28, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 2, 2022
• Journal: European Geriatric Medicine
• Print ISSN: 1878-7649
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-7657
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1181-1190
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41999-021-00532-1
• Keywords: Communication, COVID-19, older adults, training
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/5745156
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41999-021-00532-1