Improving Therapeutic Communication in a Psychiatric Mental Health Clinic

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to demonstrate the benefits of therapeutic communication in a mental health clinic with an outcome to increase patient satisfaction of their care and improve patient-caregiver communication and relationship.

Background: The consequences of poor communication or non-therapeutic communication cannot be overemphasized; these can include non-adherence to treatment plan, reduced treatment compliance, higher psychological morbidity, dissatisfaction with care and poor patient-caregiver relationship. Patients’ perception of how they are being treated affects how they respond to treatment plans and medication regimens

Method: The project consisted of providing education on the principles of therapeutic communication to healthcare workers in an outpatient psychiatric clinic. Follow up materials on therapeutic communication principles were provided on a weekly basis for one month. A pre-survey questionnaire was given to patients before intervention and a post-survey questionnaire after intervention to determine patient satisfaction with care and degree of communication with healthcare workers. The Short Assessment of Patient Satisfaction (SAPS) and the Communication Assessment Tool-Team (CAT-T) were the instruments utilized in this project.

Finding: Patient satisfaction and communication with staff were statistically and significantly improved after education on therapeutic communication was given to staff.

Conclusion: Education on therapeutic communication is an effective intervention tool in improving patient’s satisfaction and communication with staff and health care team members in a psychiatric outpatient clinic.