Technology for managing incontinence: What are the research priorities?

Incontinence and toileting difficulties can often be successfully addressed by treating their underlying causes. However, (complete) cure is not always possible and continence products to prevent or contain unresolved leakage or to facilitate toileting are in widespread use. Many people use them successfully but identifying the product(s) most likely to meet individual needs can be challenging and the recently published Seventh International Consultation on Incontinence includes a chapter which draws on the literature to provide evidence-based recommendations to help clinicians and product users to select appropriate products. This paper is based on the same evidence, but reviewed from the different perspective of those keen to identify unmet needs and develop improved products. For each of the main continence product categories it (i) outlines the design approach and key features of what is currently available; (ii) provides a generic functional design specification; (iii) reviews how well existing products meet the requirements of their main user groups; and (iv) suggests priorities for the attention of product designers. It also flags some core scientific problems which - if successfully addressed - would likely yield benefits in multiple incontinence product contexts.

"Keeping our distance": Older adults' experiences during year one of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in Australia.

The first year of the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on everyday life in Australia despite relatively low infection rates. Lockdown restrictions were among the harshest in the world, while older adults were portrayed as especially vulnerable by politicians and the media. This study examines the perceptions and experiences of the pandemic and lockdowns among 31 older Australians. We investigated how participants perceived their own vulnerability, their attitudes towards lockdowns and protective behaviors, and how the pandemic affected everyday life. We found that participants were cautious about COVID-19 and vigilant observers of physical distancing. Despite approving of public health guidelines and lockdowns, participants raised concerns about weakening social ties and prolonged social isolation. Those living alone or lacking strong family ties were most likely to report increased loneliness. Most participants nonetheless regarded themselves as "fortunate": they perceived older age as affording them financial, emotional, and relational stability, which insulated them from the worst impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. In their views, financial independence and post-retirement lifestyles helped them adapt to isolation and the disruption of lockdowns.

Incontinence during and following hospitalisation: a prospective study of prevalence, incidence and association with clinical outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Incontinence is common in hospitalised older adults but few studies report new incidence during or following hospitalisation. OBJECTIVE: To describe prevalence and incidence of incontinence in older inpatients and associations with clinical outcomes. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of prospectively collected data from consecutive consenting inpatients age 65 years and older on medical and surgical wards in four Australian public hospitals. METHODS: Participants self-reported urinary and faecal incontinence 2 weeks prior to admission, at hospital discharge and 30 days after discharge as part of comprehensive assessment by a trained research assistant. Outcomes were length of stay, facility discharge, 30-day readmission and 6-month mortality. RESULTS: Analysis included 970 participants (mean age 76.7 years, 48.9% female). Urinary and/or faecal incontinence was self-reported in 310/970 (32.0%, [95% confidence interval (CI) 29.0-35.0]) participants 2 weeks before admission, 201/834 (24.1% [95% CI 21.2-27.2]) at discharge and 193/776 (24.9% [95% CI 21.9-28.1]) 30 days after discharge. Continence patterns were dynamic within the peri-hospital period. Of participants without pre-hospital incontinence, 74/567 (13.1% [95% CI 10.4-16.1) reported incontinence at discharge and 85/537 (15.8% [95% CI 12.8-19.2]) reported incontinence at 30 days follow-up. Median hospital stay was longer in participants with pre-hospital incontinence (7 vs. 6 days, P = 0.02) even in adjusted analyses and pre-hospital incontinence was significantly associated with mortality in unadjusted but not adjusted analyses. CONCLUSION: Pre-hospital, hospital-acquired and new post-hospital incontinence are common in older inpatients. Better understanding of incontinence patterns may help target interventions to reduce this complication.

Diabetes Capabilities for the Healthcare Workforce Identified via a 3-Staged Modified Delphi Technique.

Consumers access health professionals with varying levels of diabetes-specific knowledge and training, often resulting in conflicting advice. Conflicting health messages lead to consumer disengagement. The study aimed to identify capabilities required by health professionals to deliver diabetes education and care to develop a national consensus capability-based framework to guide their training. A 3-staged modified Delphi technique was used to gain agreement from a purposefully recruited panel of Australian diabetes experts from various disciplines and work settings. The Delphi technique consisted of (Stage I) a semi-structured consultation group and pre-Delphi pilot, (Stage II) a 2-phased online Delphi survey, and (Stage III) a semi-structured focus group and appraisal by health professional regulatory and training organisations. Descriptive statistics and central tendency measures calculated determined quantitative data characteristics and consensus. Content analysis using emergent coding was used for qualitative content. Eighty-four diabetes experts were recruited from nursing and midwifery (n = 60 [71%]), allied health (n = 17 [20%]), and pharmacy (n = 7 [9%]) disciplines. Participant responses identified 7 health professional practice levels requiring differences in diabetes training, 9 capability areas to support care, and 2 to 16 statements attained consensus for each capability-259 in total. Additionally, workforce solutions were identified to expand capacity for diabetes care. The rigorous consultation process led to the design and validation of a Capability Framework for Diabetes Care that addresses workforce enablers identified by the Australian National Diabetes Strategy. It recognises diversity, creating shared understandings of diabetes across health professional disciplines. The findings will inform diabetes policy, practice, education, and research.

International Continence Society white paper on ethical considerations in older adults with urinary incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is a common problem among older adults that is often complicated by many nuanced ethical considerations. Unfortunately, there is a lack of guidance for healthcare professionals on how to navigate such concerns. This International Continence Society white paper aims to provide healthcare professionals with an ethical framework to promote best care practices in the care of older adults with urinary incontinence.

What is and what ought to be: A meta-synthesis of residential aged care staffs' perspectives on quality care.

BACKGROUND: As places of both residence and work, what constitutes "good quality care" in residential aged care requires consideration of staffs' perspectives. OBJECTIVE: A meta-synthesis of the qualitative literature was conducted exploring residential aged care staff perspectives on "quality of care." METHODS: Six electronic databases were searched for articles that met the screening inclusion criteria. This meta-synthesis was informed by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, and included studies were critically appraised using JBI SUMARI. Two independent reviewers conducted thematic network mapping and analysis of included articles, with oversight from three additional reviewers. RESULTS: Forty-seven articles were included, with findings summarised into four organising themes and nine basic themes. The four organising themes about quality care from staff perspectives include direct care, professional values and competence, the care environment and organisational/regulatory factors. CONCLUSION: Staff describe a wide range of factors that they perceived to influence the quality of care. Some may feel motivated to leave employment in aged care, due to organisational pressures that make staff unable to uphold what they perceive as an acceptable standard of care. There is tension between professional values and organisation/regulatory factors-regulation should be enacted at a level that supports good practice and staff's moral integrity. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This review found that while person-centred care is now well established as the benchmark of quality care in residential aged care homes, achieving it in reality remains challenged by limitations on staff members' time, resources and sometimes their competencies and the regularity of their employment.

Aged Care Residents' Perspectives on Quality of Care in Care Homes: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Evidence.

There is increasing interest in harnessing aged care residents' perspectives to drive quality improvement in aged care homes. We conducted a systematic review of qualitative evidence including literature examining residents' descriptions of "quality of care" in aged care homes, using database searches and screening records according to eligibility criteria. Three independent reviewers conducted quality assessment of forty-six eligible articles and performed thematic synthesis of articles' findings. We distinguish nine key themes describing factors influencing quality care: staffing levels, staff attitude, continuity, routine, environment, decision-making and choice, dignity of risk, activities, and culture and spirituality. While many themes were consistent across studies, residents' prioritization of them varied. Aged care home residents have differing conceptions of quality care as well as heterogeneous and dynamic needs and preferences. Care providers are best able to facilitate quality care when intentional efforts are made to recognize this and tailor delivery of services the individual residents.

Values, preferences and goals identified during shared decision making between critically ill patients and their doctors.

Objective: Examine values, preferences and goals elicited by doctors following goals-of-care (GOC) discussions with critically ill patients who had life-limiting illnesses. Design: Descriptive qualitative study using four-stage latent content analysis. Setting: Tertiary intensive care unit (ICU) in South Western Victoria. Participants: Adults who had life-limiting illnesses and were admitted to the ICU with documented GOC, between October 2016 and July 2018. Intervention: The iValidate program, a shared decision-making clinical communication education and clinical support program, for all ICU registrars in August 2015. Main outcome measures: Matrix of themes and subthemes categorised into values, preferences and goals. Results: A total of 354 GOC forms were analysed from 218 patients who had life-limiting illnesses and were admitted to the ICU. In the categories of values, preferences and goals, four themes were identified: connectedness and relational autonomy, autonomy of decision maker, balancing quality and quantity of life, and physical comfort. The subthemes - relationships, sense of place, enjoyment of activities, independence, dignity, cognitive function, quality of life, longevity and physical comfort - provided a matrix of issues identified as important to patients. Relationship, place, independence and physical comfort statements were most frequently identified; longevity was least frequently identified. Conclusion: Our analysis of GOC discussions between medical staff and patients who had life-limiting illnesses and were admitted to the ICU, using a shared decision-making training and support program, revealed a framework of values, preferences and goals that could provide a structure to assist clinicians to engage in shared decision making.

Incontinence in frail elderly persons: Report of the 6th International Consultation on Incontinence.

BACKGROUND: Evidence-based guidelines for the management of frail older persons with urinary incontinence are rare. Those produced by the International Consultation on Incontinence represent an authoritative set of recommendations spanning all aspects of management. AIMS: To summarize the available evidence relating to the management of urinary incontinence in frail older people published since the 5th International Consultation on Incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of systematic reviews and evidence updates were performed by members of the working group to update the 2012 recommendations. RESULTS: Along with the revision of the treatment algorithm and accompanying text, there have been significant advances in several areas of the management of lower urinary tract symptoms in frail older people. DISCUSSION: The committee continues to note the relative paucity of data concerning frail older persons and draw attention to knowledge gaps and research opportunities. Clinicians treating older people with lower urinary tract symptoms should use the available evidence from studies of older people combined with careful extrapolation of those data from younger subjects. Due consideration to an individual's frailty and wishes is crucial.

React and act: a qualitative study of how nursing home leaders follow up on staff-to-resident abuse.

BACKGROUND: Elder abuse in nursing homes is a complex multifactorial problem and entails various associations across personal, social, and organisational factors. One way leaders can prevent abuse and promote quality and safety for residents is to follow up on any problems that may arise in clinical practice in a way that facilitates learning. How nursing home leaders follow up and what they follow up on might reflect their perceptions of abuse, its causal factors, and the prevention strategies used in the nursing home. The aim of this study was to explore how nursing home leaders follow up on reports and information regarding staff-to-resident abuse. METHODS: A qualitative explorative design was used. The sample comprised 43 participants from two levels of nursing home leadership representing six municipalities and 21 nursing homes in Norway. Focus group interviews were conducted with 28 care managers, and individual interviews took place with 15 nursing home directors. The constant comparative method was used for the analyses. RESULTS: Nursing home leaders followed up incidents of staff-to-resident abuse on three different levels as follows: 1) on an individual level, leaders performed investigations and meetings, guidance, supervision, and occasionally relocated staff members; 2) on a group level, feedback, openness, and reflection for shared understanding were strategies leaders used; and 3) on an organisational level, the main solutions were to adjust to available resources, training, and education. We found that leaders had difficulties defining harm and a perceived lack of power to follow up on all levels. In addition, they did not have adequate tools for evaluating the effect of the measures that were taken. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing home leaders need to be clear about how they should follow up incidents of elder abuse on different levels in the organisation and about their role in preventing elder abuse. Evaluation tools that facilitate systematic organisational learning are needed. Nursing homes must operate as open, blame-free cultures that acknowledge that incidents of elder abuse in patient care arise not only from the actions of individuals but also from the complex everyday life of which they are a part and in which they operate.

The Effects of Education About Urinary Incontinence on Nurses' and Nursing Assistants' Knowledge, Attitudes, Continence Care Practices, and Patient Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

The aims of this systematic review were to describe, critique, and summarize research about the effects of education about urinary incontinence on nurses' and nursing assistants' knowledge and attitudes toward urinary incontinence, their continence care practices, and patient outcomes. We searched key electronic databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library) for full-text primary research articles written in the English language and published between January 1990 and October 2018. Studies were included if they described a controlled or uncontrolled trial of an education program for nurses or nursing assistants about urinary incontinence and evaluated the effects of the program on either knowledge, attitudes, practice, or patient outcomes. Data were extracted about the aim, design, sample and setting, trial methods, intervention, outcomes of interest, and findings. Quality appraisal was conducted using a mixed-methods appraisal tool. Results are presented in tabular format and reported descriptively. Nineteen studies met inclusion criteria; most were set in the United States or the UK. All trials that evaluated the effects on knowledge reported improvements; however, the effects of education on attitudes were mixed as were the effects of education on continence care practices. Eleven of the 19 studies reported the statistical effect of education on patient outcomes. Uncontrolled trials reported improvements in nursing home residents' and community-dwelling patients' continence status, but this effect was not observed in a large controlled trial. Similarly, 2 studies set in inpatient rehabilitation found no significant differences in patient continence outcomes following an educational intervention targeted to nurses.

An International Continence Society (ICS) report on the terminology for single-use body worn absorbent incontinence products.

AIMS: In 2016, the International Continence Society (ICS) Standardization Steering Committee appointed a working group to address the confusing plethora of synonyms currently used to describe single-use body worn absorbent incontinence products by recommending preferred terminology. METHODS: An online questionnaire was posted in 2016/17 inviting input from stakeholders internationally. The data were analyzed and conclusions progressively refined through working group discussions, an open meeting at the 2017 annual ICS conference, and a review of further iterations-including from the parent ICS Standardization Committee-until consensus was reached. Partway in, the International Organization for Standardization started a project with similar scope and the two organizations liaised to harmonize their conclusions while respecting each other's processes. RESULTS: A hundred people from 18 countries responded to the questionnaire. About a third (32.2%) of those declaring their nationality were from the UK and a further third (34.5%) from other English-speaking countries. Two-thirds (67.8%) lived in Europe; around a quarter (23%) in North America; and 9.2% in Australasia. Seven main design categories of products were identified and, while clear consensus was readily achieved in naming some of them, others required more work to determine the best term among multiple contenders. CONCLUSIONS: The working group concluded that the seven product design categories should be called: (a) pads; (b) unbacked pads; (c) male pads; (d) male pouches; (e) pull-on pads (protective underwear); (f) all-in-ones (wrap-around pads, adult briefs); and (g) belted pads (belted products), in which the bracketed terms are judged acceptable (though not preferred) alternatives.

Nursing home leaders' perception of factors influencing the reporting of elder abuse and neglect: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to explore the factors that influence the reporting of adverse events related to elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes from nursing home leaders' perspectives. Good leadership requires in-depth knowledge of the care and service provided and the ability to identify and address problems that can arise in clinical practice. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A qualitative explorative design with data triangulation was used. The sample consisted of 43 participants from two levels of nursing home leadership, representing six municipalities and 21 nursing homes in Norway. Focus group interviews were undertaken with 28 ward leaders and individual interviews with 15 nursing home directors. The constant comparative method was used for the analyses. FINDINGS: Both ward leaders and nursing home directors described formal and informal ways of obtaining information related to elder abuse and neglect. There were differences between their perceptions of the feasibility of obtaining formal reports about abuse in the nursing home. Three main categories of influencing factors emerged: (1) organisation structural factors, (2) cultural factors and (3) abuse severity factors. A main finding is that in its present form, the Norwegian adverse event reporting system is not designed to detect abuse and neglect. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This paper provides an in-depth understanding of patient safety and factors related to reporting elder abuse in nursing homes in Norway.

Translating dignity principles into practice for continence care for older people in care homes: A study protocol.

AIM: To develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate an evidence-based, person-centred education program to protect the dignity of care-dependent older people with dementia and continence care needs in care homes. DESIGN: A mixed method two-phase design underpinned by integrated knowledge translation. METHODS: An education program that frames dignity as the main goal of continence care will be co-designed with a purposive sample of care home staff who provide or supervise continence care for care-dependent older people with dementia in care homes and resident relatives. The program will then be implemented and evaluated in a representative sample of care home staff to determine its clinical relevance, feasibility, acceptability, and effects on staff ratings of dignity in continence care; self-reported continence care practices and the person centeredness of the environment. Data analysis will include descriptive statistics (survey data) and thematic analysis (focus groups). Funding obtained November 2018. Ethics approval obtained May 2019. DISCUSSION: This protocol outlines a mixed methods integrated knowledge translation protocol designed to translate principles about dignity into practice to improve the care of older people who are at risk of violations to their dignity in care homes. The outcome will be a contextually appropriate, evidence-based education program that protects the dignity of care-dependent older people who have dementia and continence care needs. IMPACT: Based on a sound theoretical model, the education program will be contextually appropriate for use in the care homes setting and contribute to improving the overall quality and safety of care in this setting. It could also support and inform continence care for other individuals who are care dependent. Adopting an integrated knowledge translation approach to the design and delivery of the education program and piloting it will ensure the program is contextually relevant and sustainable.

A concept analysis of dignity-protective continence care for care dependent older people in long-term care settings.

BACKGROUND: Although codes of conduct, guidelines and standards call for healthcare practitioners to protect patients' dignity, there are widespread concerns about a lack of attention to the dignity of older people who need assistance with toileting, incontinence or bladder or bowel care in health or social care settings that provide long-term care. Incontinence and care dependence threatens patient dignity. The aim of this research was to explore, describe and explain the concept of dignity as it relates to continence care for older people requiring long-term care. METHODS: The first four steps of Rodgers evolutionary method of concept analysis were followed. First, a comprehensive and systematic search of databases and key guidelines about continence care was undertaken to identify empirical research about dignity and continence care in older people in facilities that provide permanent residential or inpatient care of older people for day-to-day living. Data were extracted on the authors, date, sample, country of origin, and key definitions, attributes, contexts and consequences from each included record. Findings were inductively analysed and grouped according to whether they were the key attributes and antecedents of dignity in relation to continence care or the consequences of undignified continence care. RESULTS: Of 625 articles identified, 18 were included in the final analysis. Fifty individual attributes were identified that were categorised in 6 domains (respect, empathy, trust, privacy, autonomy and communication). A further 15 were identified that related to the environment (6 physical and 9 social). Key consequences of undignified continence care were also identified and categorised into 3 levels of impact (resident/family member, staff or organisation). CONCLUSIONS: This research resulted in a conceptual understanding of dignity that can be used as a value or guiding principle in an ethic of care for older people who need assistance with toileting, incontinence or bladder or bowel care in long-term care settings.

The effectiveness of training interventions on nurses' communication skills: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this systematic review was to identify, critically appraise and synthesise evidence for the effectiveness of communication skills training interventions in nursing practice. DESIGN: A systematic review of literature. DATA SOURCES: Randomised controlled trials published in English from 1998 to 2018, identified in five computerised databases (Medline, Cinahl, Embase, Psychinfo and Cochrane Database). Studies were included if they reported an educational intervention to enhance nurses' communication with patients and contained an objective measure of communication skills and/or patient outcome measures. REVIEW METHODS: The Preferred reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guided the review. Data were extracted regarding study design and effectiveness on nurses' communication skills. Trial quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist. The heterogeneity of the included studies prohibited meta-analysis. RESULTS: Of the 7811 papers identified, seven trials met the eligibility criteria. The quality was modest. Training programs varied significantly in duration, structure, location and use of outcome measurement tools. Five trials focused on communication with cancer patients using simulated patients. All trials found at least one statistically significant improvement for nurses' communication skills. CONCLUSIONS: Educational interventions to enhance nurses' capacity to communicate with patients show promise. The paper reports the first systematic review of randomised controlled trials concerning the effect of communication skills training on nurses' abilities to communicate with patients, inclusive of non-cancer settings. The direct impact of educational interventions on nurses' communication skills is difficult to measure arising from non-standardised outcome measurement tools. Further research is particularly needed in acute, chronic illness, aged care and community settings.

The development and validation of instruments to measure dignity-protective continence care for care-dependent older people in residential aged care facilities: A study protocol.

AIMS: To develop and validate two instruments to measure dignity-protective continence care for care-dependent older people in residential aged care facilities: one instrument to be completed by care recipients and another for healthcare professionals. METHODS: The first phase of the project will involve a review of literature to identify the attributes of "dignity-protective continence care" for older people, which will be used to design the initial drafts of the instruments. Thereafter the Delphi survey technique will be used to establish the face and content validity of the draft instruments with three purposive samples; (a) care recipients (care-dependent older people with decisional capacity), (b) formal carers (nurses and personal care workers from residential aged care facilities, and (c) healthcare professionals with gerontological expertize in the management of incontinence. After instrument development, a large cross-sectional survey of care recipients and formal carers will be conducted to establish the internal consistency and construct validity of the instruments. This will be followed by a series of tests to establish their test-retest reliability. CONCLUSION: The completed research will result in two reliable and valid instruments that will support broader efforts to ensure that care practices in residential aged care facilities do not violate the dignity of care-dependent older people with continence care needs, and allow care partners and providers to act upon the results.

Elder abuse and neglect: an overlooked patient safety issue. A focus group study of nursing home leaders' perceptions of elder abuse and neglect.

BACKGROUND: The definition and understanding of elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes can vary in different jurisdictions as well as among health care staff, researchers, family members and residents themselves. Different understandings of what constitutes abuse and its severity make it difficult to compare findings in the literature on elder abuse in nursing homes and complicate identification, reporting, and managing the problem. Knowledge about nursing home leaders' perceptions of elder abuse and neglect is of particular interest since their understanding of the phenomenon will affect what they signal to staff as important to report and how they investigate adverse events to ensure residents' safety. The aim of the study was to explore nursing home leaders' perceptions of elder abuse and neglect. METHODS: A qualitative exploratory study with six focus group interviews with 28 nursing home leaders in the role of care managers was conducted. Nursing home leaders' perceptions of different types of abuse within different situations were explored. The constant comparative method was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: The results of this study indicate that elder abuse and neglect are an overlooked patient safety issue. Three analytical categories emerged from the analyses: 1) Abuse from co-residents: 'A normal part of nursing home life'; resident-to-resident aggression appeared to be so commonplace that care leaders perceived it as normal and had no strategy for handling it; 2) Abuse from relatives: 'A private affair'; relatives with abusive behaviour visiting nursing homes residents was described as difficult and something that should be kept between the resident and the relatives; 3) Abuse from direct-care staff: 'An unthinkable event'; staff-to-resident abuse was considered to be difficult to talk about and viewed as not being in accordance with the leaders' trust in their employees. CONCLUSIONS: Findings in the present study show that care managers lack awareness of elder abuse and neglect, and that elder abuse is an overlooked patient safety issue. The consequence is that nursing home residents are at risk of being harmed and distressed. Care managers lack knowledge and strategies to identify and adequately manage abuse and neglect in nursing homes.

Challenges for nurses when communicating with people who have life-limiting illness and their families: A focus group study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The proposed study aimed to answer the following question: What communication issues do nurses find challenging when caring for people with life-limiting illness? BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that attitudes, skills and knowledge about how nurses communicate effectively with patients and their families could be improved. However, the literature predominantly focuses on nurses working in oncology and the medical profession. DESIGN: A qualitative descriptive design was used. METHODS: Focus groups were conducted with 39 nurses from three wards within a regional healthcare organisation in Victoria, Australia. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis. The COREQ checklist was used to document reporting of the study. RESULTS: In their view, nurses have the potential to develop a strong bond with patients and their families. Three key themes were identified: (a) feeling unskilled to have difficult conversations with patients who have life-limiting illness; (b) interacting with family members adds complexity to care of patients who have life-limiting illness; and (c) organisational factors impede nurses' capacity to have meaningful conversations with patients and their families. CONCLUSIONS: Caring for individuals with life-limiting illness is complex and often occurs in an emotionally charged environment. However, nurses report being hampered by time restraints and lack of information about the patient's condition and goals of care. Limitations in conversation structure and a comprehensive range of core communication skills affect their ability to confidently engage in conversations, particularly when they are responding to prognostic questions. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Whilst nurses are responsible for performing technical skills, they can maximise care by developing a trusting relationship with patients and their relatives. Increased acuity limits the time nurses have to talk with patients. In addition, they lack confidence to deal with difficult questions. Specific training may increase nurses' confidence and efficiency when communicating with patients and their families.