Nurses’ movements within and between various paths when improving their communication skills—An evaluation of validation method training

Abstract

Aims and objectives: To explore any changes in nurses' skills at communicating with residents with dementia disease when using the validation method, as observed in one-to-one videotaped conversations. Background: Communication difficulties due to cognitive impairment among residents with dementia disease may complicate care situations. Training can improve nurses' communication skills and increase care quality. The validation method aims to facilitate communication with residents with dementia disease through empathic and confirmatory approaches. Evaluations of the validation method have primarily focused on the residents' perspective, and reports on nurses' experiences are sparse. Improved communication and relationships with residents after validation method training have been described previously. Videotaped data could provide additional information about these earlier results. Design: A descriptive qualitative design. Methods: Eight nurses participated in a year of validation method training, including videotaped conversations with eleven residents. Videotapes with at least five months between the first and last recording were analysed and compared qualitatively. Results: The analysis revealed an overall pattern: nurses' movements within and between various paths when improving their communication skills. This was based on three sub-patterns: from controlling communication towards developing attentiveness in communication, from ambiguous communication towards developing coherence in communication, and from being open and attentive towards having a refined attuned communication. Conclusions: All nurses developed their communication skills during the programme, albeit to different degrees. The findings are in congruence with the experiences described by nurses, and so it is reasonable to believe that the programme helped to improve the nurses' skills in communicating with residents with dementia disease. Relevance to clinical practice: A validation method training programme could give nurses the possibility to develop their skills in communicating with residents with dementia disease.

Communication training interventions for family and professional carers of people living with dementia: a systematic review of effectiveness, acceptability and conceptual basis

“…Given these considerations and the variety of methodologies and perspectives of the qualitative studies included, a domains-based approach was used to examine quality. To illustrate the variety of qualitative studies included: one study used a phenomenological action research approach (Lykkeslet, Gjengedal, Skrondal, & Storjord, 2014) others used content analysis or videotaped interaction-data (Chenoweth et al, 2015;Hammar, Emami, Engstrom, & Gotell, 2011;Lykkeslet et al, 2014;Soderlund, Cronqvist, Norberg, Ternestedt, & Hansebo, 2013); one study focused on organisational acceptability of the training rather than on participant experience (Chenoweth et al, 2015).…”

“…Eight detailed qualitative studies of training-interventions were available (Chenoweth et al, 2015;Figueiredo, Barbosa, Cruz, Marques, & Sousa, 2013;Hammar et al, 2011;Lykkeslet et al, 2014;Soderlund et al, 2013;Soderlund et al, 2016;Soderlund, Cronqvist, Norberg, Ternestedt, & Hansebo, 2016;Soderlund, Norberg, & Hansebo, 2012, 2014. As previously discussed the methodology and focus of these studies was diverse, and the quality was variable.…”

“…However, studies offered an insight into some of the benefits of training-interventions; for example, seeing behaviour that challenges as communicating a need of the people living with dementia and working more creatively to reduce aggression or increase wellbeing and cooperation (such as, using music or singing) (Hammar et al, 2011;Lykkeslet et al, 2014). They also provided information regarding how communication could be improved following training interventions; for example, studies on Validation Method indicated that nurses communication could change from being controlling and not attending to the potential meaning of the people living with dementia to being more attentive and following the pace and conversational meaning of people living with dementia (Soderlund et al, 2013;Soderlund et al, 2012). Further the findings of Chenoweth et al (2015) indicate some of the challenges in supporting organisational change and maintaining skills learnt in training; for example, managers supporting staff to continue implementing changes by providing adequate staff education and supervision.…”

Conversations between persons with dementia disease living in nursing homes and nurses – qualitative evaluation of an intervention with the validation method

“…The programme included theoretical training with supervision and practical VM training integrated in the nurses' daily work . Twelve nurses participated and completed the whole programme.…”

“…In previous studies within the present project, a qualitative design was used to study nurses' experiences of the VM. In these studies, nurses described improved skills in communicating with persons with DD living in nursing homes , which were also observed in videotapes . Thus, it seemed important to study how this influences these persons' communications in one‐to‐one conversations with nurses who were trained in the VM.…”