The experience of prehospital staff on communication barriers in patient safety. a qualitative study.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32645/13906984.1501Keywords:
Communication, communication barriers, patient , safety, prehospital care, ambulancesAbstract
Communication in the prehospital environment is a pillar for patient safety, but it is exposed to multiple barriers that increase the risk of adverse events. The objective was to understand the experiences of professionals who worked in ambulances in the province of Carchi regarding the communication barriers that affected patient safety. A qualitative study with a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 participants. The data were analyzed through a thematic analysis process and interpreted considering Imogene King's goal attainment theory. Four barriers were identified: 1) inadequate communication; 2) technological limitations; 3) deficiencies in teamwork; and 4) difficulties in obtaining information. The results suggested that the barriers were not independent failures, but rather the manifestation of systemic dysfunction. The failure in the social system generated stress that degraded the interpersonal system, forcing the personal system to develop adaptation strategies. Communication barriers shaped a complex phenomenon that revealed a systemic disarticulation. Patient safety largely depended on the resilience of the staff, who manage the system's deficiencies to ensure safe care.
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