Nursing Students’ Communication with Patients in Hospitals Affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Abstract Introduction: The way nursing students communicate with patients can show their actual performance in the future. This research was performed to determine how nursing students communicate with hospitalized patients in hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences in. Methods: In a descriptive study, 175 students who had medical surgical unit, were selected by census sampling method in the year 2005. Data gathering was done by a 29 item checklist. While interacting with patients, each student was observed by a trainer three times in the ward, and the results were recorded. Data analysis was done by SPSS software using mean, and standard deviation, and the comparisons were made by t-test, ANOVA and Tukey. Results: The mean and standard deviation of nursing students’ scores in communicating with patients were 58.98±13.76 out of 87. The students’ performance was desirable at the beginning of interview and in interaction skills, semi-desirable in problem follow up and disease description, and undesirable at the end of interview. There was no significant difference between the mean scores, according to different age groups, semester of study, year of the study and the type of ward they were attending. Conclusion: Although students’ communication skills are in a desirable level, revising educational programs and improving teaching methods with focus on communication skills are recommended. Teaching theoretical base of the related subjects at the same time with practice in clinical settings is also suggested.