The effect of communication skills training on the self-efficacy of nurses: a systematic review and meta-analysis study

• Main Authors: Mojtaba Fattahi Ardakani, Mohammad Ali Morowati Sharifabad, Mohammad Amin Bahrami, Amin Salehi Abargouei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: DiscoverSys 2019-02-01
• Series: Bali Medical Journal
• Subjects: nursing, medical science
• Online Access: https://balimedicaljournal.org/index.php/bmj/article/view/1315

<p><strong>Introduction:</strong> Self-efficacy is one of the determinants of effective communication between the nurse and the patient and promotion of communication skills can increase it. This systematic and meta-analysis study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of communication skills training on self-efficacy of nurses.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> PubMed, Science Direct, CINAHL and Web of science were searched up to 2017, for relevant studies. Studies that assessed the effect of communication skills training on the self-efficacy of nursing personnel were included in the study. Finally, 10 studies were selected. In this study, novice and nursing students were not considered.</p><p>The standard deviation (SD) mean of changes in communication self-efficacy were used to assess Hedges’ g to be used as an effect size for meta-analysis. DerSimonian and Liard random effects model was included in the study in order to summarize the effects.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> Meta-analysis findings showed that communication skills training can improve nurses' self-efficacy (Hedge’s g = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.311-0.699, p&lt;0.001). Education was also affected by increasing the self-efficacy based on the random effects model. Furthermore, after analyzing the subgroup this effect retained significant in single group trials. The effectiveness of communication skills training was higher in studies with the intervention group compared with control groups. The quality of studies was investigated based on cochran. Most studies were qualitatively low.</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Educational programs for nurses' communication improve their feelings towards communication self-efficacy. Due to the importance of self-efficacy in communication skills development, trainings related communication skills should be considered as a permanent program in hospitals<strong>.</strong></p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Communication Programs, Self-efficacy, Nurse