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Quantity and quality of interaction between staff and older patients in UK hospital wards: a descriptive study

Quantity and quality of interaction between staff and older patients in UK hospital wards: a descriptive study
Quantity and quality of interaction between staff and older patients in UK hospital wards: a descriptive study
Background: The quality of staff-patient interactions underpins the overall quality of patient experience and can affect other important outcomes. However no studies have been identified that comprehensively explore both the quality and quantity of interactions in general hospital settings.

Aims & objectives: To quantify and characterise the quality of staff-patient interactions and to identify factors associated with negative interaction ratings.

Setting: Data were gathered at two acute English NHS hospitals between March and April 2015. Six wards for adult patients participated including medicine for older people (n = 4), urology (n = 1) and orthopaedics (n = 1).

Methods: Eligible patients on participating wards were randomly selected for observation. Staff-patient interactions were observed using the Quality of Interactions Schedule. 120 h of care were observed with each 2 h observation session determined from a balanced random schedule (Monday-Friday, 08:00-22:00 h). Multilevel logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with negative interactions.

Results: 1554 interactions involving 133 patients were observed. The median length of interaction was 36 s with a mean of 6 interactions per patient per hour. Seventy three percent of interactions were categorized as positive, 17% neutral and 10% negative. Forty percent of patients had at least one negative interaction (95% confidence interval 32% to 49%). Interactions initiated by the patient (adjusted Odds Ratio [OR] 5.30), one way communication (adjusted OR 10.70), involving two or more staff (adjusted OR 5.86 for 2 staff, 6.46 for 3+ staff), having a higher total number of interactions (adjusted OR 1.09 per unit increase), and specific types of interaction content were associated with increased odds of negative interaction (p < 0.05). In the full multivariable model there was no significant association with staff characteristics, skill mix or staffing levels. Patient agitation at the outset of interaction was associated with increased odds of negative interaction in a reduced model. There was no significant association with gender, age or cognitive impairment. There was substantially more variation at ward level (variance component 1.76) and observation session level (3.49) than at patient level (0.09).

Conclusion: These findings present a unique insight into the quality and quantity of staff-patient interactions in acute care. While a high proportion of interactions were positive, findings indicate that there is scope for improvement. Future research should focus on further exploring factors associated with negative interactions, such as workload and ward culture.
0020-7489
100-107
Barker, Hannah Ruth
94312934-2508-4d08-a5fe-6f54544f96cf
Griffiths, Peter
ac7afec1-7d72-4b83-b016-3a43e245265b
Mesa-Eguiagaray, Ines
581065b0-e101-454a-9954-366ce8b9a00e
Pickering, Ruth
4a828314-7ddf-4f96-abed-3407017d4c90
Gould, Lisa
fd421544-1ab1-4032-b705-5bcd11f25eed
Bridges, Jacqueline
57e80ebe-ee5f-4219-9bbc-43215e8363cd
Barker, Hannah Ruth
94312934-2508-4d08-a5fe-6f54544f96cf
Griffiths, Peter
ac7afec1-7d72-4b83-b016-3a43e245265b
Mesa-Eguiagaray, Ines
581065b0-e101-454a-9954-366ce8b9a00e
Pickering, Ruth
4a828314-7ddf-4f96-abed-3407017d4c90
Gould, Lisa
fd421544-1ab1-4032-b705-5bcd11f25eed
Bridges, Jacqueline
57e80ebe-ee5f-4219-9bbc-43215e8363cd

Barker, Hannah Ruth, Griffiths, Peter, Mesa-Eguiagaray, Ines, Pickering, Ruth, Gould, Lisa and Bridges, Jacqueline (2016) Quantity and quality of interaction between staff and older patients in UK hospital wards: a descriptive study. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 62, 100-107. (doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.07.018).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: The quality of staff-patient interactions underpins the overall quality of patient experience and can affect other important outcomes. However no studies have been identified that comprehensively explore both the quality and quantity of interactions in general hospital settings.

Aims & objectives: To quantify and characterise the quality of staff-patient interactions and to identify factors associated with negative interaction ratings.

Setting: Data were gathered at two acute English NHS hospitals between March and April 2015. Six wards for adult patients participated including medicine for older people (n = 4), urology (n = 1) and orthopaedics (n = 1).

Methods: Eligible patients on participating wards were randomly selected for observation. Staff-patient interactions were observed using the Quality of Interactions Schedule. 120 h of care were observed with each 2 h observation session determined from a balanced random schedule (Monday-Friday, 08:00-22:00 h). Multilevel logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with negative interactions.

Results: 1554 interactions involving 133 patients were observed. The median length of interaction was 36 s with a mean of 6 interactions per patient per hour. Seventy three percent of interactions were categorized as positive, 17% neutral and 10% negative. Forty percent of patients had at least one negative interaction (95% confidence interval 32% to 49%). Interactions initiated by the patient (adjusted Odds Ratio [OR] 5.30), one way communication (adjusted OR 10.70), involving two or more staff (adjusted OR 5.86 for 2 staff, 6.46 for 3+ staff), having a higher total number of interactions (adjusted OR 1.09 per unit increase), and specific types of interaction content were associated with increased odds of negative interaction (p < 0.05). In the full multivariable model there was no significant association with staff characteristics, skill mix or staffing levels. Patient agitation at the outset of interaction was associated with increased odds of negative interaction in a reduced model. There was no significant association with gender, age or cognitive impairment. There was substantially more variation at ward level (variance component 1.76) and observation session level (3.49) than at patient level (0.09).

Conclusion: These findings present a unique insight into the quality and quantity of staff-patient interactions in acute care. While a high proportion of interactions were positive, findings indicate that there is scope for improvement. Future research should focus on further exploring factors associated with negative interactions, such as workload and ward culture.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 17 July 2016
e-pub ahead of print date: 19 July 2016
Published date: October 2016
Organisations: Faculty of Health Sciences

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 398860
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/398860
ISSN: 0020-7489
PURE UUID: c2f4a9a3-2eb9-4f89-8885-3194e292b283
ORCID for Hannah Ruth Barker: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2639-3503
ORCID for Peter Griffiths: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-2439-2857
ORCID for Jacqueline Bridges: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-6776-736X

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Date deposited: 04 Aug 2016 09:01
Last modified: 28 Mar 2024 05:01

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Contributors

Author: Hannah Ruth Barker ORCID iD
Author: Peter Griffiths ORCID iD
Author: Ines Mesa-Eguiagaray
Author: Ruth Pickering
Author: Lisa Gould

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