Knowledge and experiences with augmentative and alternative communication by paediatric nurses: a pilot study

Abstract

Purpose

The current mixed methods research study was designed to describe the experience and opinions of paediatric acute care nurses at a single paediatric medical centre regarding augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). This research serves as the beginning of a line of research to determine needs that can be met through later education and training on AAC with paediatric acute care nurses.

Methods

Mixed methods were used to gather survey and interview data from nurses at a single paediatric hospital to investigate their knowledge of AAC, perceived relevance of AAC for their patient populations, and preferences for training programmes.

Results

Quantitative survey and qualitative interview data indicated a need for AAC education for these paediatric nurses. Nurses demonstrated limited knowledge and experience with AAC but communicated both a desire and perceived need to know more to effectively care for their patients.

Conclusion

Nurses reported limited AAC knowledge but expressed a desire for support to use AAC with their patients. AAC education and cross-sector collaboration with healthcare workers such as speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and acute care paediatric nurses are indicated to support effective communication when interacting with patients with complex communication needs (CCN).

Implications for rehabilitation

• Improved background knowledge to develop and implement future nurse education on AAC.

• Foundation for cross-sector collaboration (e.g., nurses and SLPs) on AAC implementation in paediatric acute care settings

Keywords:

• Augmentative-alternative communication
• paediatrics
• nurse
• training
• speech-language pathology

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.