Influence of Communication Competence and Communication Style on the Nurse-Parent Partnership in Pediatric Nurses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of communication competence and communication style with nurse-parent partnership among pediatric nurses. Methods: This study had a descriptive, correlational design. Data were collected from 169 pediatric nurses in B metropolitan city and Y city, from January 2018 to February 2018. A structured questionnaire was administered. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, one-way analysis of variance, the Scheffé test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and multiple regression analysis with SPSS version 23.0. Results: Nurse-parent partnership was correlated with communication competence (r=.59, p<.001), an informative communication style (r=.65, p<.001), an affective communication style (r=.68, p<.001), and an authoritative communication style (r=-.30, p<.001). The factors influencing nurse-parent partnership among the study subjects were an affective communication style, an informative communication style, communication competence, and the nurses’ current position. The overall explanatory power of this model was 61.0%, and the most influential factor was an affective communication style. Conclusion: Nurse-parent partnership showed significant correlations with communication competence and affective and informative communication styles. The study may serve as a basic resource for promoting nurse-parent partnership, which increases the effectiveness of treatment for children in pediatric wards and will ultimately help improve the quality of child care.