Nurses' communication skills: an evaluation of the impact of solution-focused communication training

Aims. This paper describes the evaluation of a short training course in sol ution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) skills. This evaluation examined the rel evance of SFBT skills to nursing and the extent to which a short training c ourse affected nurses' communication skills. Background. Nurses' communication skills have been criticized for many year s, as has the training in communication skills that nurses receive. The abs ence of a coherent theoretical or practical framework for communication ski lls training led us to consider the utility of SFBT as a framework for a sh ort training course for qualified nurses, the majority of them are register ed nurses working with adults. Design and methods. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected: the f ormer using pre- and post-training scales, the latter using a focus group c onducted 6 months after the training. Data were analysed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and content analysis. Results and findings. Quantitative data indicated positive changes in nurse s' practice following the training on four dimensions, and changes in nurse s' willingness to communicate with people who are troubled reached levels o f significance. Qualitative data uncovered changes to practice, centred on the rejection of problem-orientated discourses and reduced feelings of inad equacy and emotional stress in the nurses. Conclusions. There are indications that SFBT techniques may be relevant to nursing and a useful, cost-effective approach to the training of communicat ion skills. Solution focused brief therapy provides a framework and easily understood tool-kit that are harmonious with nursing values.