Preliminary Study on Health Students’ Communication Skills and Needs in Patient Education

Abstract

Effective communication is a core competency in nursing practice, particularly in patient education, yet many nursing students experience difficulties in developing communication skills that align with clinical expectations. This study aimed to explore communication skills, perceived communication needs, and readiness for communication among undergraduate nursing students. A descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted involving 78 sixth-semester nursing students at STIKES Bethesda Yakkum Yogyakarta. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire comprising four sections: demographic characteristics, communication skills, perceived communication needs, and readiness for communication. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistical methods. The results revealed that most students demonstrated moderate communication skills (52.6%), while nearly one quarter reported low skill levels (24.4%). More than half of the respondents (51.3%) perceived high communication needs, indicating a considerable gap between existing competencies and professional demands. Regarding readiness, half of the students (50.0%) showed moderate readiness to apply communication skills in patient education settings, whereas 26.9% reported low readiness. Overall, the findings indicate a misalignment between communication skills, perceived needs, and readiness among nursing students. In conclusion, although nursing students possess basic communication abilities, targeted and practice-oriented communication training is essential to improve readiness and confidence. Integrating structured communication education into nursing curricula is therefore crucial to better prepare students for effective patient education.