Bsc (Hons) Adult Nursing Studies

Interpretations of Communication by Significant Others in Critical Care (2008)

Although many authors previously signified communications’ importance with significant others in the critical Care environment, it would appear that little is understood about the more intimate attributes associated with actual experiences in this phenomenon. This secondary research review will specifically focus upon communication in critical care with significant others. It will allude to the importance of communication in obtaining satisfaction or dissatisfaction outcomes as depicted briefly by Malacrida, et al. Specific qualitative research papers, pertinent to communication experiences with significant others in the critical care environment were selected depicting this phenomenon. By utilising a thorough literature search and applying structured methodological designs to assist in the criteria for choosing papers, a selection of qualitative papers were scrutinised and analysed.

Recognised frameworks, deductive, inductive and summative approaches to qualitative content analysis have been applied in analysing the selected papers addressing trustworthiness, design and the methodology of data extraction within the studies. Following this relevant data was extracted from the results of the selected papers using standardised forms to maintain uniformity throughout the process. The results have been presented in themes and displayed in the form of a graph to highlight distribution throughout the papers of the various themes, which contribute to answering the research question. The findings were compared and contrasted and correlation made with the methodological shortcomings of the selected studies in ascertaining their relevance to practice and to future research prior to conclusions being suggested.

Conclusions from the data eludes to considerable dissatisfaction with communications given to significant others during relatives stay in Critical Care. There appears to be a gap, in what professionals know to be the best practice in communicating with significant others and the interpretation of them by significant others. More specific research to establish methods and training needs in identifying families’ individual requirements in communication, determining how the personal styles of interrelating with family members has the potential for impaired communication and negative outcomes needs to be addressed in the future.

45,000 words – 202 pages in length
Excellent literature review
Good in depth analysis
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