Therapeutic communication using mirroring interventions in nursing education: A mixed methods study.

Abstract

Purpose: Therapeutic communication between nurses and patients is a method of interaction occurring throughout the process of identifying and resolving the patient's health problems. This study investigated the effects of interventions on nursing students' therapeutic communication competency.

Methods: This mixed methods study used a sequential exploratory design involving four sessions of therapeutic communication interventions with 40 third-year nursing students in South Korea. A pre- and post-therapeutic communication competence survey was conducted, and the effect was confirmed through individual interviews. Paired t-tests assessed the difference in therapeutic communication competence, while qualitative data underwent content analysis.

Results: Therapeutic communication competence results improved from 79.30 to 89.58 points out of 100. Three themes were derived: "the process of properly recognizing myself," "active learning to understand communication between myself and others," and "successful steps toward practicing sincere nursing."

Conclusions: Therapeutic communication interventions involving mirroring interviews and shared experiences improves nursing students' patient-centered communication skills. The findings provided evidence for strategies needed to improve therapeutic communication competency in clinical settings.