Building Connection with Patients Connected to Machines: A Descriptive Study of Nurse Communication with Chronic Patients in Philippine Hospital Units

Abstract

Chronic patients are those who regularly visit hospitals and rely on machines. It is crucial for nurses to communicate with them consistently to help provide health literacy and improve their overall well-being. Despite nurses being highly knowledgeable, they often struggle to communicate due to their workload, barriers to communication, and other factors. This study examines how nurses manage interactions with their chronic patients. Qualitative research design was used, gathering information through semi-structured interviews, and analyzing the data using a thematic analysis. For the respondents, 12 nurses were interviewed, with three nurses each for cancer, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and pulmonary disease. The study found that nurses communicate with their chronic patients in situations such as in building rapport, providing comfort, identifying problems, educating, and providing advice. The respondents use strategies in their communication including being empathetic, making jokes, and giving compliments. The study also found that some patients display active involvement while some display a lack of involvement. Moreover, the results found significant challenges faced by nurses of chronic patients such as agitated patients and the nurse-patient ratio. Finally, the results show that most of the nurse respondents display the relatedness competencies of a sense of belonging, reciprocity, mutuality, and synchrony. These findings answer how Filipino nurses connect with chronic patients. The results imply that if nurses provide the relatedness competencies, the nursepatient interaction can provide comfort and well-being. The results also imply that patients are generally thankful and that nurses believe that connection can improve the patients’ overall wellbeing.