Health care practitioners’ use of wireless phones in hospital settings can affect interprofessional communication and patient encounters

The use of wireless phones in hospital units are increasing, inducing practitioners to carry a working phone each. A qualitative study was performed in a medical hospital unit, investigating their effect on client-professional encounters and interprofessional communication. Participant observations were conducted in accordance to Spradleys methodology. A total of 30 hours were observed, and ethnographic interviews including 5 practitioners and 10 patients were performed. A hermeneutic approach was maintained during data analysis.
The study demonstrates a change in the way health care practitioners contact each other, using the phone although physical close. They tend to prioritize the wireless phone above the situation in which they are engaged, using nonverbal gestures to retract, and then have a conversation on the phone in front of the patient. Repeated calls were seen to affect the practitioners´ attentiveness, causing patients fear or lack of comprehension to escape their notice. In such situations it was obvious how the practitioner’s ability to conduct compassionate care was compromised. Not perceiving the patients need of comfort and explanation restricted the patients trust, consequently influencing their relation.