PICO Question: Evaluating Communication's Effect on Patient Outcomes

This assignment presents a PICO question exploring the impact of effective communication between patients, families, and caregivers on patient outcomes. The paper utilizes an evidence-based research approach, framing the question with the PICO elements: Problem/Patient, Intervention/Indicator, Comparison, and Outcome. The background emphasizes the importance of communication skills, including verbal and non-verbal aspects, in building therapeutic relationships and trust. The assignment highlights research indicating that effective communication is crucial for patient understanding, satisfaction, and involvement in decision-making, particularly for elderly and chronically ill patients. The intervention focuses on effective communication, while the comparison considers the absence of effective communication. The expected outcome is better patient outcomes or reduced symptoms. The rationale underscores the necessity of communication in providing safe patient care, supporting interdisciplinary teams, and influencing patient recovery. References include studies supporting the positive impact of communication on patient length of stay and overall care quality, reinforcing the importance of this topic for research and practice in nursing.

Running head: PICO QUESTION
PICO QUESTION
Name of the Student
Name of the university
Author’s note

1PICO QUESTION
PICO question- Does effective communication between the patient, family and the caregivers
help in producing better patient outcomes.
Background
The Evidence based research in nursing uses a process of framing a question, assessing,
locating and evaluating. The elements of PICO include problem/patient, Intervention/ Indicator,
Comparison and Outcome. Communication skills are one of the important roles of nurse as
effective communication consists of much more than what is just said to a patient. It not only
includes the verbal mode of communication but also non- verbal communication, effective
listening, body language, building of therapeutic relationship and trust. Research on the patient-
caregiver communication reveals the fact that patient acts as an important co-player in the
medical consultation of the patient (Hemsley et al., 2012). Communication with the patient is
necessary as he/she is the best person to inform about the functioning of the body. Humans are
holistic creatures possessing a mind, body and the spirit. Effective communication helps the
client to understand the details of their wellness and also help the client to perceive that caregiver
is concerned about his/her well being (Silverman et al., 2016). Patients generally make
impressions of the caregivers based on how they communicate with the nurses. Person centered
communication is integral in the nurse- patient communication and has been important in
achieving the patient satisfaction. It also helps in the decision making process in the family.
Effective communication requires the understanding of the patient's feeling and the grievances

2PICO QUESTION
(Kourkouta & Papathanasiou, 2014). Effective communication is required, as sometimes the
intensity of pain can be assessed by just looking at the facial grimacing. Often the simple
gestures like a warm greeting, a thoughtful question or a mere patting on the shoulder can
actually put the patient at ease.
Framing of the research question:-
P- Patients including elderly and terminally ill patients.
I- Effective communication with the patient and the family
C- No effective communication
O- Better outcome or reduced symptoms.
Population
The paper focuses on the patients especially the elderly patients or those suffering from
chronic diseases and has the chance to recover by effective self management of the disease.
Interventions
Effective communication with the patient and the family can bring about better outcomes
in patients. Communication with the family helps in decision making and also takes part in the
collaborative care of the patient. Communication with the patient helps deciding about their own
treatment regimen and also helps in increasing the self efficacy.
Comparison
Comparison has been done with the patients who have not been entertained in the
decision making process. Lack of communication between the patients and the caregivers have

3PICO QUESTION
increased confusion, morbidity, medication errors and hospital readmissions in patients
compared to those who have had an open communication with the clinicians.
Outcome
Communication supports the patients and their families throughout the health care
regimen by facilitating effective patient involvement before, during and after the hospital stay.
The quality of the communication with terminally ill patients acts as a key determinant of patient
outcomes. It not only helps in informed decision making but also helps in the development of the
interpersonal relationship between the caregiver, patient and the family.
Rationale for choosing the topic
Communication is an intrinsic human characteristic and can be considered as a hall mark
for providing a safe patient care. Effective communication is also necessary while being a part of
an interdisciplinary team (Hemsley et al., 2012). Effective clinical communication helps to
convey the level of urgency in case of emergency condition and helps to develop a shared
understanding of the problem. A study conducted by Hemsley et al., (2012) involving focus
groups and interviews shows that the quality of communication has an important influence over
the patient outcomes. About 50 % of the cases have shown decreased length of stay due to
effective communication between the patient and the nurses (Lyndon et al., 2011). In nursing
the choice of words during the patient care immensely affects the interpersonal relationship. It
has also been found that listening thoughtfully, smiling and talking in a slow and serene way
could enhance the nurse patient interaction (Kourkouta & Papathanasiou, 2014). The quality of
the patient's recovery partially depends upon the communication with the patients.
Communications skills are necessary in nursing as it sometimes helps the patient to believe that

4PICO QUESTION
his/her need are placed on the priority. Communication and caring are inseparable and one
cannot hope to give the ultimate care to the patient if he/she does not communicate (Lyndon et
al., 2011). Hence a nurse must be self aware of her communication skills. It is due to this reason
that makes this topic a suitable one for research.

5PICO QUESTION
References
Hemsley, B., Balandin, S., & Worrall, L. (2012). Nursing the patient with complex
communication needs: time as a barrier and a facilitator to successful communication in
hospital. Journal of advanced nursing, 68(1), 116-126.
Kourkouta, L., & Papathanasiou, I. V. (2014). Communication in nursing practice. Materia
socio-medica, 26(1), 65.
LYNDON, A., ZLATNIK, M. G., & WACHTER, R. M. (2011). Effective Physician-Nurse
Communication: A Patient Safety Essential for Labor & Delivery. American Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, 205(2), 91–96. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2011.04.021
Silverman, J., Kurtz, S., & Draper, J. (2016). Skills for communicating with patients. CRC Press.