PP-3 Acceptability and usefulness of a conversation guide to support healthcare professionals in complex communication

<h3>Introduction</h3> Conversation guides may support healthcare professionals to engage effectively in difficult communication. Differently from previous conversation guides that provide a talking map with signposts to navigate the conversation flow, an innovative guide that is based on communication scenarios grounded in clinical cases was developed. <h3>Aims</h3> To explore the guide’s acceptability, usefulness and feasibility for daily practice, and acquired knowledge of communication strategies perceived by professionals with varying scopes of practice and who work in different care settings. Secondarily, to examine factors influencing respondents’ perceptions. <h3>Methods</h3> 198/675 (29.3%) Italian professionals completed an online questionnaire that evaluates the guide’s acceptability (5-point 10-item scale; acceptable if score &gt;30, highly acceptable if score &gt;40), usefulness and feasibility to use (1=not at all to 10=extremely), and their perceived acquired knowledge (1=not at all to 5=extremely) after reading the resource. Multivariable regression analyses were performed. <h3>Results</h3> The professionals were mostly nurses (71%) and worked in several community (41%) and hospital services (59%); 80.3% perceived the booklet acceptable and 51.5% highly acceptable. The booklet was also deemed useful (87.4%) and feasible to use (76.8%), and its reading improved the perception of acquired knowledge (91.4%, 148/162). Usefulness (β +1.42, CI +0.48; +2.35) and feasibility (β +1.26, CI +0.44; +2.08) were independently related to acceptability. Acceptability and usefulness were independently related to feasibility. Usefulness (aOR=1.91, CI 1.13; 3.56) and post-graduate education in communication studies (aOR=0.20, CI 0.04-0.86) were associated with the perception of acquired knowledge. <h3>Conclusion</h3> A conversation guide built on real cases was appreciated by professionals of different scopes of practice and care settings. The perception of acceptability, feasibility to use, and acquired knowledge increases when educational resources are deemed useful. <h3>Impact</h3> Conversation guides may improve communication with patients and families when they are anchored in clinical practice and equip professionals with knowledge of their real-word tasks.