Potentially Inadequate Real-Life Speech Levels by Healthcare Professionals during Communication with Older Inpatients.

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate real-life speech levels of health professionals during communication with older inpatients in small group settings.

METHODS

This is a prospective observational study assessing group interactions between geriatric inpatients and health professionals in a geriatric rehabilitation unit of a tertiary university hospital (Bern, Switzerland). We measured speech levels of health professionals during three typical group interactions (discharge planning meeting ( = 21), chair exercise group ( = 5), and memory training group = 5)) with older inpatients. Speech levels were measured using the CESVA LF010 (CESVA instruments s.l.u., Barcelona, Spain). A threshold of <60 dBA was defined as a potentially inadequate speech level.

RESULTS

Overall, mean talk time of recorded sessions was 23.2 (standard deviation 8.3) minutes. The mean proportion of talk time with potentially inadequate speech levels was 61.6% (sd 32.0%). The mean proportion of talk time with potentially inadequate speech levels was significantly higher in chair exercise groups (95.1% (sd 4.6%)) compared to discharge planning meetings (54.8% (sd 32.5%), = 0.01) and memory training groups (56.3% (sd 25.4%), = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data show that real-life speech level differs between various types of group settings and suggest potentially inadequate speech levels by healthcare professionals requiring further study.