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Barriers and Facilitators of Safe Communication in Obstetrics: Results from Qualitative Interviews with Physicians, Midwives and Nurses

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  • Martina Schmiedhofer

    (Department of Psychology & Methods, Jacobs University Bremen GmbH, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany
    German Coalition for Patient Safety (Aktionsbuendnis Patientensicherheit e.V.), Alte Jakob Str. 81, 10179 Berlin, Germany)

  • Christina Derksen

    (Department of Psychology & Methods, Jacobs University Bremen GmbH, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany)

  • Franziska Maria Keller

    (Department of Psychology & Methods, Jacobs University Bremen GmbH, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany)

  • Johanna Elisa Dietl

    (Department of Psychology & Methods, Jacobs University Bremen GmbH, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany
    German Coalition for Patient Safety (Aktionsbuendnis Patientensicherheit e.V.), Alte Jakob Str. 81, 10179 Berlin, Germany)

  • Freya Häussler

    (German Coalition for Patient Safety (Aktionsbuendnis Patientensicherheit e.V.), Alte Jakob Str. 81, 10179 Berlin, Germany)

  • Reinhard Strametz

    (German Coalition for Patient Safety (Aktionsbuendnis Patientensicherheit e.V.), Alte Jakob Str. 81, 10179 Berlin, Germany
    Wiesbaden Business School, Rhein Main University of Applied Science, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany)

  • Ilona Koester-Steinebach

    (German Coalition for Patient Safety (Aktionsbuendnis Patientensicherheit e.V.), Alte Jakob Str. 81, 10179 Berlin, Germany)

  • Sonia Lippke

    (Department of Psychology & Methods, Jacobs University Bremen GmbH, Campus Ring 1, 28759 Bremen, Germany)

Abstract

Patient safety is an important objective in health care. Preventable adverse events (pAEs) as the counterpart to patient safety are harmful incidents that fell behind health care standards and have led to temporary or permanent harm or death. As safe communication and mutual understanding are of crucial importance for providing a high quality of care under everyday conditions, we aimed to identify barriers and facilitators that impact safe communication in obstetrics from the subjective perspective of health care workers. A qualitative study with 20 semi-structured interviews at two university hospitals in Germany was conducted to explore everyday perceptions from a subjective perspective (subjective theories). Physicians, midwives, and nurses in a wide span of professional experience and positions were enrolled. We identified a structural area of conflict at the professional interface between midwives and physicians. Mandatory interprofessional meetings, acceptance of subjective mistakes, mutual understanding, and debriefings of conflict situations are reported to improve collaboration. Additionally, emergency trainings, trainings in precise communication, and handovers are proposed to reduce risks for pAEs. Furthermore, the participants reported time-constraints and understaffing as a huge burden that hinders safe communication. Concluding, safety culture and organizational management are closely entwined and strategies should address various levels of which communication trainings are promising.

Suggested Citation

  • Martina Schmiedhofer & Christina Derksen & Franziska Maria Keller & Johanna Elisa Dietl & Freya Häussler & Reinhard Strametz & Ilona Koester-Steinebach & Sonia Lippke, 2021. "Barriers and Facilitators of Safe Communication in Obstetrics: Results from Qualitative Interviews with Physicians, Midwives and Nurses," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-16, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:3:p:915-:d:484663
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Peter Koch & Max Zilezinski & Kevin Schulte & Reinhard Strametz & Albert Nienhaus & Matthias Raspe, 2020. "How Perceived Quality of Care and Job Satisfaction Are Associated with Intention to Leave the Profession in Young Nurses and Physicians," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-12, April.
    2. David L B Schwappach & Katrin Gehring, 2014. "Silence That Can Be Dangerous: A Vignette Study to Assess Healthcare Professionals’ Likelihood of Speaking up about Safety Concerns," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(8), pages 1-8, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sonia Lippke & Christina Derksen & Franziska Maria Keller & Lukas Kötting & Martina Schmiedhofer & Annalena Welp, 2021. "Effectiveness of Communication Interventions in Obstetrics—A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-27, March.
    2. Johanna Elisa Dietl & Christina Derksen & Franziska Maria Keller & Martina Schmiedhofer & Sonia Lippke, 2023. "Psychosocial Processes in Healthcare Workers: How Individuals’ Perceptions of Interpersonal Communication Is Related to Patient Safety Threats and Higher-Quality Care," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(9), pages 1-19, May.
    3. Martina Schmiedhofer & Christina Derksen & Johanna Elisa Dietl & Freya Häussler & Frank Louwen & Beate Hüner & Frank Reister & Reinhard Strametz & Sonia Lippke, 2022. "Birthing under the Condition of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Germany: Interviews with Mothers, Partners, and Obstetric Health Care Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-24, January.
    4. Martina Schmiedhofer & Christina Derksen & Johanna Elisa Dietl & Freya Haeussler & Reinhard Strametz & Beate Huener & Sonia Lippke, 2022. "The Impact of a Communication Training on the Birth Experience: Qualitative Interviews with Mothers after Giving Birth at Obstetric University Departments in Germany," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-17, September.

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