RESCUE - Rapid, Effective, Safe Communication in Emergency Departments: A cross-sectional e-survey.

Freeman-Sanderson, A; Clayton, N; Fry, M; Sullivan, R; Hemsley, B

RESCUE - Rapid, Effective, Safe Communication in Emergency Departments: A cross-sectional e-survey.

Freeman-Sanderson, A

Clayton, N Fry, M

Sullivan, R Hemsley, B

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Australasian Emergency Care, 2025, 28, (2), pp. 123-129
Issue Date:: 2025

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Freeman-Sanderson, A https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2161-6421
dc.contributor.author	Clayton, N
dc.contributor.author	Fry, M https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1265-7096
dc.contributor.author	Sullivan, R
dc.contributor.author	Hemsley, B https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6255-3140
dc.date.accessioned	2025-07-16T23:10:54Z
dc.date.available	2024-12-10
dc.date.available	2025-07-16T23:10:54Z
dc.date.issued	2025
dc.identifier.citation	Australasian Emergency Care, 2025, 28, (2), pp. 123-129
dc.identifier.issn	2589-1375
dc.identifier.issn	2588-994X
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/188468
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND: Effective staff-to-staff and patient-provider communication in the Emergency Department (ED) is essential for safe, quality care. Routine wearing of Personal-Protective-Equipment (PPE) has introduced new challenges to communication. We aimed to understand the perspectives of ED staff about communicating while wearing PPE, and to identify factors contributing to communication success, breakdown, and repair. METHODS: Study design was a descriptive cross-sectional online survey with convenience sampling. Categorical data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data analysed using content thematic analysis. RESULTS: Across nursing, medical and allied health, 78 staff responded with mean age= 38.8 years and mean ED clinical experience= 8.8 years). Respondents reported PPE impacted communication with patients/family members (81 %) and staff (61 %), with almost three-quarters of patient interactions rated as "somewhat difficult" or "extremely difficult". Content themes were: (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. Health impacts of communicating in PPE (50 %) included voice fatigue, skin irritation, and throat dryness. CONCLUSION: ED staff perceived that wearing PPE impacted communication and compromised safe and efficient quality care delivery. Staff reported using increased voice volume, repetition, gestures, increased proximity, and emphasised facial movements to enhance their communication.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Australasian Emergency Care
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.auec.2024.12.002
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1110 Nursing, 1117 Public Health and Health Services
dc.subject.classification	Nursing
dc.subject.classification	3202 Clinical sciences
dc.subject.classification	4203 Health services and systems
dc.subject.classification	4205 Nursing
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Emergency Service, Hospital
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged
dc.subject.mesh	Communication
dc.subject.mesh	Personal Protective Equipment
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Cross-Sectional Studies
dc.subject.mesh	Communication
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged
dc.subject.mesh	Emergency Service, Hospital
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Surveys and Questionnaires
dc.subject.mesh	Personal Protective Equipment
dc.title	RESCUE - Rapid, Effective, Safe Communication in Emergency Departments: A cross-sectional e-survey.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	28
utslib.location.activity	Australia
utslib.for	1110 Nursing
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/School of Nursing and Midwifery
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/Speech Pathology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/UTS Ageing Research Collaborative (UARC)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/INSIGHT: Institute for Innovative Solutions for Wellbeing and Health
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Visualisation Institute (VI)
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/The Trustworthy Digital Society
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/UTS Groups/Disability Research Network
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-07-16T23:10:52Z
pubs.issue	2
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	28
utslib.citation.issue	2

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Effective staff-to-staff and patient-provider communication in the Emergency Department (ED) is essential for safe, quality care. Routine wearing of Personal-Protective-Equipment (PPE) has introduced new challenges to communication. We aimed to understand the perspectives of ED staff about communicating while wearing PPE, and to identify factors contributing to communication success, breakdown, and repair. METHODS: Study design was a descriptive cross-sectional online survey with convenience sampling. Categorical data were analysed using descriptive statistics and qualitative data analysed using content thematic analysis. RESULTS: Across nursing, medical and allied health, 78 staff responded with mean age= 38.8 years and mean ED clinical experience= 8.8 years). Respondents reported PPE impacted communication with patients/family members (81 %) and staff (61 %), with almost three-quarters of patient interactions rated as "somewhat difficult" or "extremely difficult". Content themes were: (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. Health impacts of communicating in PPE (50 %) included voice fatigue, skin irritation, and throat dryness. CONCLUSION: ED staff perceived that wearing PPE impacted communication and compromised safe and efficient quality care delivery. Staff reported using increased voice volume, repetition, gestures, increased proximity, and emphasised facial movements to enhance their communication.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/188468