RESCUE: Rapid, Effective, Safe Communication in Emergency Departments (ED): Views of ED staff on communication while wearing personal protective equipment.
Tracks
6
Acute care – adult
Acute care – paediatric
| Saturday, June 14, 2025 |
| 11:45 AM - 11:55 AM |
Overview
Professor Bronwyn Hemsley, Dr Nicola Clayton, Margaret Fry, Dr Rebecca Sullivan and Amy Freeman-Sanderson
Details
⏫ Research insights
⏲️ 11.45am - 12.05pm
⌛20-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Foundational (new/casual familiarity with the topic e.g. treated a single case)
⏲️ 11.45am - 12.05pm
⌛20-minutes
📚 Assumed knowledge of attendees: Foundational (new/casual familiarity with the topic e.g. treated a single case)
Presenter
Dr Bronwyn Hemsley
The University Of Technology Sydney
RESCUE: Rapid, Effective, Safe Communication in Emergency Departments (ED): Views of ED staff on communication while wearing personal protective equipment.
11:45 AM - 12:05 PMPresentation summary
Background: Clear, effective communication between staff and during patient-staff interactions in the Emergency Department (ED) is essential for safe, quality patient care. The need to wear masks routinely in the ED has introduced new challenges to communication and research is needed to identify ways to improve mask-wearing communication.
Aims: To (a) understand Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) mask-wearing communication from the perspective of ED staff, and (b) identify factors contributing to communicative success, breakdown, and repair while PPE mask wearing in the ED..
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional online survey, designed by the interdisciplinary research team, was conducted. Categorical data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data were analysed using content thematic analysis.
Results: Across nursing, medical and allied health disciplines, 78 ED staff completed the survey. Participants reported PPE impacted communication with patients/family members (82%) and staff (62%), with almost three-quarters of patient interactions rated as “somewhat difficult” or “extremely difficult” while wearing a mask. At times, masks were removed, prioritising effective communication while potentially increasing risk for infection. Health impacts of communicating in PPE (50%) included voice fatigue, skin irritation, and throat dryness. Content themes to be presented are: (i) impacts of mask-wearing on communication, (ii) impacts of mask-wearing on patient care quality and safety, and (iii) strategies for repairing communication breakdown.
Conclusion: ED staff reporting that wearing PPE masks impedes staff-to-staff and staff-patient communication indicates an important role for hospital-based speech pathologists. Poor communication due to mask-wearing can compromise timely and efficient acute service care delivery, impacting on safe, quality care in the ED. Finding ways to improve communication while mask-wearing is important to enable continued wearing of PPE without compromising care quality and safety related to communication. Results will be presented and discussed in relation to the communication strategies identified as potentially improving mask-wearing communication.
Aims: To (a) understand Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) mask-wearing communication from the perspective of ED staff, and (b) identify factors contributing to communicative success, breakdown, and repair while PPE mask wearing in the ED..
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional online survey, designed by the interdisciplinary research team, was conducted. Categorical data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data were analysed using content thematic analysis.
Results: Across nursing, medical and allied health disciplines, 78 ED staff completed the survey. Participants reported PPE impacted communication with patients/family members (82%) and staff (62%), with almost three-quarters of patient interactions rated as “somewhat difficult” or “extremely difficult” while wearing a mask. At times, masks were removed, prioritising effective communication while potentially increasing risk for infection. Health impacts of communicating in PPE (50%) included voice fatigue, skin irritation, and throat dryness. Content themes to be presented are: (i) impacts of mask-wearing on communication, (ii) impacts of mask-wearing on patient care quality and safety, and (iii) strategies for repairing communication breakdown.
Conclusion: ED staff reporting that wearing PPE masks impedes staff-to-staff and staff-patient communication indicates an important role for hospital-based speech pathologists. Poor communication due to mask-wearing can compromise timely and efficient acute service care delivery, impacting on safe, quality care in the ED. Finding ways to improve communication while mask-wearing is important to enable continued wearing of PPE without compromising care quality and safety related to communication. Results will be presented and discussed in relation to the communication strategies identified as potentially improving mask-wearing communication.
Refrences
Freeman-Sanderson, A. (2024). Advancing healthcare excellence in ICU: highlighting the contribution of speech pathology. Australian Critical Care, Volume 37, Issue 1, 1 - 2
Freeman-Sanderson, A., Hemsley, B. et al., (2023). Communication functions of adult patients admitted to intensive care: A multicentre, binational point prevalence study, Australian Critical Care, Volume 36, Issue 6, 2023, Pages 1084-1089,
Freeman-Sanderson, A., Hemsley, B. et al., (2023). Communication functions of adult patients admitted to intensive care: A multicentre, binational point prevalence study, Australian Critical Care, Volume 36, Issue 6, 2023, Pages 1084-1089,
**********
Prof Bronwyn Hemsley is the Head of Speech Pathology at UTS and a Fellow of Speech Pathology Australia.
Dr Nicola Clayton
Concord Repatriation General Hospital
RESCUE: Rapid, Effective, Safe Communication in Emergency Departments (ED): Views of ED staff on communication while wearing personal protective equipment.
11:45 AM - 12:05 PM**********
Dr Nicola Clayton is a Clinical Specialist Speech Pathologist at Concord Hospital in Sydney with over 20 years in experience in complex dysphagia management. She completed her Master of Science in Medicine in 2007 exploring dysphagia in respiratory disease and her PhD in 2016 examining dysphagia and orofacial contracture management in severe burn injury. She holds honorary affiliations with the University of Queensland, University of Sydney and is internationally recognised for her expertise, research, and education in the field of dysphagia, severe burn injury and critical care.
Amy Freeman-Sanderson
RESCUE: Rapid, Effective, Safe Communication in Emergency Departments (ED): Views of ED staff on communication while wearing personal protective equipment.
11:45 AM - 12:05 PM**********
Margaret Fry
RESCUE: Rapid, Effective, Safe Communication in Emergency Departments (ED): Views of ED staff on communication while wearing personal protective equipment.
11:45 AM - 12:05 PM**********
Dr Rebecca Sullivan
La Trobe University
RESCUE: Rapid, Effective, Safe Communication in Emergency Departments (ED): Views of ED staff on communication while wearing personal protective equipment.
11:45 AM - 12:05 PM**********
Rebecca is a Wiradjuri descendent and Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist and has extensive clinical experience working with adults experiencing communication and swallowing difficulties in hospital and community settings. In 2024, Rebecca completed her PhD through the University of Technology, Sydney which examined the falls of hospital patients with communication disability following stroke, using a mixed methods design to explore the impact of communication disability on falls management in rehabilitation. Rebecca is an early career researcher, focusing on improving the care and safety of hospital patients with communication disability.
The information contained in this program is current at of the time of publishing but is subject to changes made without notice.
Disclaimer: © (2024) The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited. All rights reserved.
Important Notice, please read: The views expressed in this presentation and reproduced in these materials are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, The Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited ("the Association"). The Association makes no warranty or representation in relation to the content, currency or accuracy of any of the materials comprised in this presentation. The Association expressly disclaims any and all liability (including liability for negligence) in respect of use of these materials and the information contained within them. The Association recommends you seek independent professional advice prior to making any decision involving matters outlined in this presentation including in any of the materials referred to or otherwise incorporated into this presentation.
.
