Authors (including presenting author) :
Kwong, KYT, Wong LY, Leung NS, Chan TC
Affiliation :
Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Princess Margarate Hospital
Introduction :
There is a significant rising trend of hospital admissions of adolescent patients in recent years and most of them are complicated with various mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, behavior and eating disorder etc. However, the existing Psychiatric consultation support is insufficient to offer timely attention for this group of patients leading to long waiting time and prolonged hospital stay. Moreover, in recent years, it is found that a certain amount of adolescents usually lacks social skills and unable to communicate as well as they should. In 2022, an education training program was conducted to enhance nurses’ confidence and skills to communicate effectively with adolescent in-patients with mental illness which is crucial to support them during hospitalization.
Objectives :
1. To enhance nurses’ confidence to communicate with adolescent in-patients with mental illness.
2. To enhance nurses’ skills and competency on effective communication with adolescent patients.
Methodology :
A “Pre-test” vs. “Post-test” design was adopted and education training was conducted in one General Paediatric ward. A pre- and post-staff survey on self-confidence (Six-point Likert scale) in communicating effectively with adolescent patients with mental illness was developed. Education training on effective communication with adolescent patients with mental disorder included common mental disorders and related care, communication tips with focus on active listening, empathy, clarification, encourage adolescent involvement, HEADSSS assessment tool & community resources etc. was developed. Post-staff survey was conducted right after the training. In addition, staffs' hands-on practice on communication skills were self-reported with focus on active listening, empathy, open-ended questioning, use of HEADSSS, reassurance etc. after the training.
Result & Outcome :
From April 2023 to June 2023, 27 nurses had received communication training. About 40.7% of nurses with nursing experience less than 4 years. The overall nurses’ rating score on self-confidence of effective communication with adolescent in-patients had increased from 2.7 to 4.25. Post-training hands-on practice had showed increase use of communication skills like active listening (89%), empathy (62%), open-ended questioning (48%), HEADSSS (33%), reassurance and non-verbal clues (18%).
Education training program with focus on disease management and communication skills was effective to enhance nurses’ confidence and competency in communicating effectively with adolescent in-patients with mental disorder.
