Effect of nurse-patient communication on anxiety, depression and stress level of emergency ward patients

S Salimi; A Ebadi; S Najafi Mehri; J Mokhtari Nouri; F Shokrollahi; H Mahmoudi

Effect of nurse-patient communication on anxiety, depression and stress level of emergency ward patients

S Salimi ¹ , A Ebadi ¹ , S Najafi Mehri ¹ , J Mokhtari Nouri ¹ , F Shokrollahi ¹ and H Mahmoudi ^{1
, *}

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¹ Iran

Article information

Journal of Critical Care Nursing : January 30, 2010, 3 (1); e7111
Published Online: January 30, 2010
Article Type: Research Article
Received: August 28, 2016
Accepted: February 08, 2010

To Cite: Salimi S, Ebadi A, Najafi Mehri S, Mokhtari Nouri J, Shokrollahi F, et al. Effect of nurse-patient communication on anxiety, depression and stress level of emergency ward patients, Crit Care Nurs J. 2010 ;3(1):e7111.

Abstract

Aims: Nurse-patient interaction is very important in health-treatment systems, especially emergency wards. This study
investigated the effectiveness of nurse-patient communication in reducing emotional states (stress, anxiety and depression)
in emergency department patients.
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed in one of Tehran's emergency wards during May to December
2008. The study population were all patients who admitted at the emergency department and stayed for at least 3 hours.
Two study and control groups (each containing 150 patients) were selected by available sampling method. Experimental
group patients were cared by nurses trained about how to communicate with patients and control group nurses were not
under such training. To collect data, demographic and 21-questioned depression, anxiety and stress scale questionnaire were
used. Data was analyzed by using SPSS 13 software and Chi square, Man-Whitney and independent t tests.
Results: 20.7% of control patients had severe depression, 24.6% had severe anxiety and 41.3% had severe stress. In the
experimental group, 22.1% of patients had severe depression, 20.3% had severe anxiety and 35.6% had severe stress.
Differences were not significant between two groups in any field (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Generally, stress, anxiety and depression level is high in emergency patients. Implementation of "to
communicate effectively with patients" protocol by nurses does not significantly reduce depression, stress and anxiety of
patients.

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