Parallel Chart Writing and Resilience Impact the Narrative Competence of Medical Staff in China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background and Aims

Narrative competence is essential for good communication between medical staff and patients. It is a powerful instrument for the delivery of holistic healthcare. However, little research focuses on the influencing factors of narrative competence and the relationships among resilience, self-efficacy, and narrative competence. The study aims to explore the influence factors of narrative competence of medical staff and confirm the relationships among self-efficacy, resilience, and narrative competence.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 606 medical staff from two affiliated hospitals in Zhejiang and Heilongjiang provinces, respectively. The participants were scored using the Chinese narrative competence scale, the brief Chinese version of the resilience scale, and the Chinese version of the self-efficacy scale.

Results

This study showed that the score of narrative competence was 149.76 ± 28.70, including the scores of listening dimension (48.01 ± 9.36), understanding dimension (67.75 ± 13.55), and reflecting dimension (34.00 ± 6.77). A high narrative competence score was associated with hospital location and parallel chart writing (p < 0.01). Pearson's correlation analysis showed resilience and self-efficacy were positively related to narrative competence.

Conclusion

Medical staff's narrative competence is intermediate in China. Parallel chart writing and resilience would impact this competence, which should be further improved.