ASSESSING NURSE-PARENT COMMUNICATION AMONG NURSES/MIDWIVES IN ACCRA METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

An important component of professional nursing practice which expresses the relationship

among nurses/midwives and parents in the care of the neonate is a good communication

between the nurses/midwives and parents. The hospitalization of an Infant to a Neonatal

Intensive Care Unit (NICU) inevitably causes anxiety amongst parents. The communication

between nurses/midwives and parents is a critical component of the support system available

to parents which can help reduce stress among parents. The purpose of this study is to assess

nurse- parent communication among nurses/midwives in the Accra metropolis. The study took

place at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, La General Hospital and the 37 Military Hospital.

The target population for this study were all nurses working in the NICU at the study period. A

cross-sectional quantitative approach was used. A structured questionnaire based on the

construct of the Attitude, Social influence and Self-efficacy (ASE) model was used to collect

data from the nurses/midwives. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences

(SPSS Version 20.0). The overall performance on nurse-parent communication (behaviour)

was high. All the independent variable correlated positively with nurse parent communication

but on a weak level except for self-efficacy which correlated negatively and moderately. The

predictors of nurse-parent communication were number of years worked, behavioural intention

and self-efficacy. Recommendations were made based on the findings. Insight gained from this

research might help nurses in a similar setting to attain the goal of improving communication

with parents of neonates at the NICU.