Loading...
The influence of professional identity on how the receiver receives and responds to a speaking up message : A cross-sectional study
Barlow, Melanie Watson, Bernadette Jones, Elizabeth Maccallum, Fiona Morse, Kate J.
Barlow, Melanie
Watson, Bernadette
Jones, Elizabeth
Maccallum, Fiona
Morse, Kate J.
Abstract
Background
Research focused on understanding what enables or hinders health professionals to speak up about a safety concern has been to date predominately atheoretical and speaker focused. However, the role the receiver of the message plays in these often-difficult encounters is highly influential. To date, speaking up programs have created conversational mnemonics that technically should respectfully engage the receiver, yet speaking up remains challenging. This paper utilises Communication Accommodation Theory to explore the impact the communication behaviour and speaker characteristics has on the receiver of a speaking up message, and if these impacts differ between receiver groups (clinical disciplines).
Method
Clinicians (N = 208) from varying disciplines responded to two hypothetical speaking up vignettes, where participants were the receivers of speaking up messages. Analysis of variance was used to explore any potential differences between receiver groups.
Results
Findings indicated that the level of perceived accommodation and group membership, whether defined by speaker discipline or seniority, collectively influenced how the receiver of a speaking up message evaluated the interaction, which influenced their anticipated response to the speaker.
Conclusions
The receiver’s perceptions and evaluations of the message, their own professional identity and the presence of others, influenced receivers’ anticipated responses. This has direct implications on healthcare speaking up training and provision of care, as the varying clinical disciplines received and responded to the same messages differently.
Keywords
speaking up, receiver, communication accommodation theory, healthcare communication, safety voice, social identity, patient safety
Date
2023
Type
Journal article
Journal
BMC Nursing
Book
Volume
22
Issue
1
Page Range
1-15
Article Number
Article 26
ACU Department
Faculty of Health Sciences
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access
Open