Internal communication in primary health centers: A nursing perspective

Abstract

Introduction: Any intervention aimed at improving and reinforcing healthcare practice can and should improve communication between the organization, nurses, and doctors. Internal communication must be understood as the processes and procedures that transmit information or messages within the organization through specific channels. This study intends to assess the care communication processes between nurses, other professionals, and the organization at the primary care level. Methodology: In-depth interviews were conducted with nurses from Primary Care centers in the city of Valencia, with questions in which some began with the expression: "From your experience..." in order to capture their perceptions and personal experience. Through image and audio video recording, twenty-one nurses' verbal and non-verbal messages were recognized. The verbatim transcription allowed the analysis and comparison of the results with the literature. Results: Once the interviews were treated and coded, categories were selected and established. Initiative and personal experience, that is, communication based on individual professional experience, has been one of the most common findings in the interprofessional communication model. Discussion: We could affirm that everything related to communication is left to the initiative and personal experience, ignoring that the cooperation and training of all and among all, from respect and co-responsibility, including managers, is the sensible and practical path to realize the joint achievement that is none other than the improvement of care for patients and families. Conclusions: Health organizations, in this case Primary Care, do not consider training in communication skills necessary, which is practically non-existent and is left to the individual initiative of health professionals.