Gerontology & Geriatric Research

Abstract

Communication of Healthcare Professionals with Geriatric Patients

Diana Paskaleva, Stoilka Tufkova and Velichka Popova

Background: In their daily professional activity, the nurses constantly communicate with the patients, their relatives and with the members of the medical team. The ability to communicate is fundamental in medical specialist’s work. For the development of individual, effective plan for medical care and education, the nurse can rely entirely on her communication skills. Caring for geriatric patients also require professional competence and specific communication skills.

Purpose: To investigate and analyze the level of communication between the nurse and the patient, as well as his relatives, during the hospitalization. Respondents through an anonymous survey of 392 patients aged over 65 received treatment in surgery, internal and emergency department of the Hospital “St. Panteleimon”, Hospital “Plovdiv”-Plovdiv, University Hospital “Caspela”-Plovdiv, University Hospital “Trimontsium”-Plovdiv, University Hospital “Eurohospital”-Plovdiv, University Hospital “Pulmed”-Plovdiv.

Results and conclusion: Analysis of the results shows that nurses are able to communicate with patients and no problems during the communication occurred. Disturbing is the fact that not a small percentage of the health professionals do not communicate with the relatives of patients. The respondents placed first as the main reason for disturbances in the relationship between them and the medical staff-the specific age of the patients (51.8%).