Basic Information

Name: Debra Kerr
Title: Assoc Prof in Nursing
Institution: Deakin University
Discipline: Nursing
Years of experience: 30

Research

Primary methodological research approach:

• Patient–provider relationship

Focus of research in communication and healthcare:

• Implementation research
• Mixed methods
• Observational studies
• Qualitative methods
• (Quasi-)experiential designs
• RCT

Description

Three keywords describing expertise and interest:

1. Nursing

Description of field of expertise, major interests, and consultation topics:

The focus of my research is engagement with consumers and carers to improve quality and safety of healthcare. Specifically, through undertaking important, targeted, and high-quality research, it is my aim to achieve the following broad outcomes: 1) Improve the quality of nurses’ communication, 2) Enhance consumers’ and carers’ experience of healthcare, and, 3) Increase shared decision making between nurses and patients. Arising from concerns about the method of teaching communication skills to nurses which is modelled on medical education, I have embarked on a new area of research in collaboration with national and international experts. In the preliminary study which I led (‘The effectiveness of training interventions on nurses’ communication skills: A systematic review’), we determined that there is a scarcity of evidence for the effectiveness of communication skills training programs for nurses, particularly in general medical/surgical ward settings. In a qualitative study, ‘Challenges for nurses when communicating with people who have life-limiting illness and their families: A focus group study’, we identified that nurses lack confidence and a comprehensive understanding of the full repertoire of skills that can be used when communicating with individuals with life limiting illness. In response to these findings, a multidisciplinary team developed a nurse-specific training program – the ‘Communication Skills Training Program for Nurses’. In the study ‘Responding to nurses’ communication challenges: evaluating a blended learning program for communication knowledge and skills for nurses’, we were able to evidence an improvement in knowledge and confidence for nurses’ communication.

Brief biography: