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

Anna K. Stuck (), Stephan Born, Andreas E. Stuck and Martin Kompis
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Anna K. Stuck: Department of Geriatrics, University of Bern, University Hospital Inselspital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
Stephan Born: Department of Geriatrics, University of Bern, University Hospital Inselspital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
Andreas E. Stuck: Department of Geriatrics, University of Bern, University Hospital Inselspital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland
Martin Kompis: Department of ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Bern, University Hospital Inselspital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 5, 1-9

Abstract: 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 ( n = 21), chair exercise group ( n = 5), and memory training group (n = 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%), p = 0.01) and memory training groups (56.3% (sd 25.4%), p = 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.

Keywords: hearing; geriatrics; elderly; discharge planning meetings; healthcare providers; hospitalized (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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