2022 Volume 42 Pages 385-390
Aim: To clarify the status of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) recognition and experience among university hospital nurses working for patients with intractable neurological diseases.
Method: We conducted a questionnaire survey among 584 nurses in the neurology wards of university hospitals across Japan to ask about the recognition and experience of using 11 types of AAC. The sum-up number of AAC known was used as the recognition score, and the relationship with nurses’ characteristics was analyzed.
Result: Three hundred and thirteen valid responses were received from 27 hospitals. Only one nurse knew 11 types of AAC. The overall mean was 4.40 ± 2.38. Only 2.2% had experience with the Biological phenomenon method. Significant differences in AAC recognition scores were found for years of experience in hospital wards, disease notification attendance, training on AAC (p < .001), and home nursing experience (p = .005).
Conclusion: Nurses at university hospitals have a low recognition of overall AAC and little experience in its use. They must learn more to propose appropriate means of communication while considering a patient’s perception of their disease.
