Communication strategies used by Parkinson's nurse specialists during healthcare interactions: A qualitative descriptive study.
Emilie Pitts, Karen Wylie, Andrea M Loftus and 1 others
PMID 35285973WHAT IT FOUND
Parkinson's nurses described simplifying language, using closed questions, allowing extra time, using visual or written supports, and prompting people with Parkinson's to use speech therapy strategies.
They relied on experience and patient preference, not evidence the strategies work.
Key findings
01Nine Parkinson's nurse specialists described five broad communication themes, including building a therapeutic relationship.
02Participants described reducing cognitive load by simplifying language, using closed questions, rephrasing, and allowing extra time.
03They described supporting expressive communication with visual or written aids, pacing boards, and prompts to use speech therapy strategies.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study did not measure whether the strategies improved communication or worked in practice. It included only nine nurse specialists, all female, and the researchers did not aim for saturation. Participants did not check transcripts or provide feedback on the results. The findings are nurses' self-reported practices, not observed communication or tested effectiveness.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest were declared. The authors reported that the last two named authors are affiliated with Park C, a research hub for understanding and managing Parkinson's, and the first author has a family member with Parkinson's disease.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these strategies as proven to improve communication. The study asked nine nurses to describe what they do, and it did not evaluate effectiveness.