A Multidimensional Analysis of Stress and Communication Processes in the Emergency Department: The Role of Communication Barriers and Crisis Exposure

Aim: Emergency departments impose substantial psychological burdens on healthcare professionals due to patient overcrowding, time pressure, and clinical uncertainty. This study aimed to examine the relationship between stress levels and communication processes among emergency department staff, focusing on communication barriers, crisis management, and emotional resilience.Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 287 healthcare professionals (42.9% physicians and 57.1% nurses) working in the emergency department of Ankara Etlik City Hospital. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire developed in accordance with the study objectives. Associations were examined using Spearman’s correlation, and independent predictors of stress were assessed through multiple linear regression.Results: The median stress score was 23 (interquartile range: 20–26). Communication barriers showed a moderate positive correlation with stress (r = 0.568; p < 0.001) and emerged as the strongest independent predictor (β = 0.494; p < 0.001). Crisis management (β = 0.152; p = 0.003) and professional role (p = 0.006) were also significantly associated with stress. The model explained 52.7% of the variance in stress levels (R² = 0.527). Age, years of professional experience, and weekly shift frequency made no independent contribution. Stress levels and communication barriers peaked among professionals with 1–4 years of experience (p < 0.001).Conclusion: Stress among emergency department personnel is more strongly associated with communication barriers, crisis management, and professional role than with age, experience, or workload-related indicators alone. Institutional strategies to improve communication and structured support programs for early-career professionals, particularly during the transition shock period, may strengthen stress management and patient safety.