The effectiveness of communication skills training on professional performance and quality of work life of pre-hospital emergency medical staff: An experimental study in Iran

Abstract

AimCommunication skills are one of the components that influence the performance of pre-hospital emergency staff who provide services to patients. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of communication skills training on the professional performance and quality of work life of pre-hospital emergency staff. MethodsThis experimental study with pretest–posttest design was conducted on 150 pre-hospital emergency staff in Iran from March 2022 to May 2023. The participants were randomly assigned into two control (n = 75) and experimental (n = 75) groups. The intervention included 4 sessions (3 h each) of communication skills training, weekly. The data gathering scales were Stamm’s quality of work life questionnaire and Patterson's job performance questionnaire, which were used at start point, 4 and 8 weeks after that. ResultsThe mean score professional performance in experimental group increased significantly to 42.4 ± 0.70 in the second stage and to 44.5 ± 0.55 in the third stage (P < 0.05). The mean score of the quality of work life was also 96.9 ± 0.9 and 99.8 ± 0.9 in the 4th and 8th weeks after the intervention, which was significantly more than control group (P < 0.05). ConclusionsThe results showed the communication skills training improves professional performance and increases the quality of work life of pre-hospital emergency staff.