The Development of Communication Model through Digital Platform Using Participation of Nursing Administrators and Professional Nurses In a Private Hospital, Southern Thailand

Abstract

This action research aimed to develop a Nursing Department communication model through a digital platform in a private hospital, southern region, and to study the results of the Nursing development of communication model through digital platforms. Apply the concept of organizational communication and participation in the organization. The research methodology used Kammis and McTaggart action research in conjunction with the design thinking process. The research was divided into three phases. Phase 1, the planning stage. Qualitative data were collected about the organizational communication situation of the nursing department by in-depth interviews. 8 nursing administrators and 10 registered nurses used semi-structured questions with a content validity index of 0.86. Phase 2, Act and Observe which involved 20 nursing administrators and 177 registered nurses The tool consisted of 2 parts: 1) Draft communication model via the digital platform (prototype) that has been considered by 3 experts. 2) Evaluation tool is the communication response behavior questionnaire. The confidence test by Test Re-test method is equal to 0.87. Satisfaction and Organizational Communication Participation Questionnaire Confidence test with Cronbach's alpha coefficient were 0.96 and 0.96. 1) Communication responding behaviors Test-retest index of 0.87 2) Satisfaction to the organizational communication model, and 3) Participation in organizational communication (alpha Cronbach’s coefficient index = 0.96 and 0.91, respectively). The last phase was Reflection which was done by interviewing 6 nursing administrators and 14 registered nurse participants. Qualitative data were analyzed by content analysis method, while quantitative data analysis used descriptive statistics.

            There are two parts of the research findings: 1) Draft a model of corporate communication through a digital platform for nursing departments; It is a participatory form of corporate communication. Two-way communication is available through the digital platform. For organization management and learning promotion with a nurse informaticist as the manager of the communication and learning system. This study revealed that the communication model is divided into 3 levels, which are organization communication, division, and individual. by prioritizing communication, it is divided into urgent communication in 24 hours and according to the appropriate time. with the nursing department to determine the learning model through the digital platform arises from the participation of the sample, consisting of 2 levels the nursing department to the operating department (downward) and the nurse selected to learn on their own (upward). Outcomes of model participation included three parts. 1) Communication responding behaviors showed that most participants spent 1 to 12 hours to respond after messaging was sent (38.66%), The period that the platforms were mostly used to respond was during after-work time (60.90%), followed by a participant’s day off (28.70%). Most participants accessed the platform around 1-2 times/day (84.35%). The department which was the fastest responder was the Health Promotion, the highest frequency of responding was from the Intensive Care Unit, 2) the average satisfaction score was at a high level and 3) the average score of participation in organizational communication was at a moderate level.

            The study results suggest that participation of nurse administrators and unit nurses is important to the development of communication and learning within the Nursing Department using the digital platform as well as the variety of communication technology and communication channels. Nurses who have knowledge and capability of information technology should be supported to get involved in the management of the organization's communication.