Nurses excel at spotting patient distress, study finds
A new study of 147 primary care consultations shows nurses successfully recognize and encourage patients to open up about emotional struggles in one-third of visits. The finding validates nurse-led care models and suggests training in emotional recognition could improve patient outcomes while reducing costly downstream interventions.
Originaltitel: Communicating emotional distress during registered nurse-led primary care consultations: From recognition to exploration of health concerns.
Sjuksköterskeledd primärvård kan identifiera och hantera patienters emotionella påfrestningar utan att missa viktig klinisk information. Observationen av 147 konsultationer visade att patienter uttryckte emotionell stress i cirka en tredjedel av fallen — totalt 165 uttryck uppdelade på 140 signaler och 25 explicita bekymmer. Sjuksköterskor svarade konstruktivt i 76 procent av fallen genom att skapa utrymme för vidare disclosure, oberoende av patientens kön, ålder eller modersmål. Resultaten från Västra Götalandsregionen och Göteborgs universitet bekräftar att sjuksköterskor behärskar den kommunikativa kompetensen att recognisera emotionell stress genom aktivt lyssnande. För inköpschefer och regionledning innebär det att sjuksköterskeledd primärvård optimerar personcentrerad vård utan att kompromissa på effektivitet. Denna kapacitet minskar behov av läkaröverflyttningar för psykosocial hantering och ökar patienttillfredsställelsen.
OBJECTIVE: To explore patients' expressions of emotional distress and subsequent Registered Nurses' (RNs') responses in primary care consultations. METHODS: This observational study included a consecutive sample of 147 audio recorded RN-led consultations with adult patients seeking primary care for a new health problem. Expressions of emotional distress were analysed using the Verona Coding Definitions of Emotional Sequences. RESULTS: Patients expressed emotional distress in one-third of the recorded consultations. A total of 165 expressions of emotional distress were identified, comprising 140 cues and 25 concerns. The RNs' responses primarily provided space for further disclosure of the emotional expressions (125, 75.8%). No statistically significant differences in RNs' response types, such as providing or reducing space, were found based on patients' sex, age, or native language. CONCLUSION: RNs demonstrated proficiency in recognising patients' expressions of emotional distress and in facilitating further disclosure in an inclusive manner that aligns with principles of person-centred care. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Encouraging recognition of emotional distress through active listening and an engaged communication approach may enhance RN communication and optimise conditions for person-centred care.