Advancing methodological guidance for audio- and video-based observational studies of communication in nurse-patient encounters: A discussion paper.

Authors

Annelie J Sundler, Malin Östman, Lena Hedén, Inger K Holmström, Sandra van Dulmen

Published in

International journal of nursing studies advances. Volume 11. Pages 100627. Epub Jul 10, 2026.

Abstract

Communication is a cornerstone in nursing. Research on nurse-patient communication faces well-known challenges, as encounters are dynamic, context-dependent, and shaped by subtle verbal and non-verbal cues. Capturing this complexity requires rigorous observational approaches, of which audio and video recordings are key methods, enabling documentation of communication as it unfolds in practice. However, collecting such data in clinical settings involves significant methodological and ethical considerations.
The aim of this paper is to provide guidance for methodological rigor in data collection using audio or video recordings when observing clinical communication in patient encounters.
This discussion paper draws on theory and previous empirical research on communication in clinical patient encounters using data collected with audio and video recordings.
The practical guidance is structured into five key areas spanning the data collection process: (1) planning and preparation, (2) audio versus video recordings, (3) ethical and legal concerns, (4) information and recruitment, and (5) procedures for collecting recordings. Each area includes methodological considerations related to the design and conduct of data collection, as well as recommendations for transparent reporting to support rigor.
This guidance supports researchers in addressing key methodological challenges in data collection using audio and video recordings in studies of clinical communication. It highlights considerations relevant to the design and conduct of the research process, including issues of ecological validity and generalizability, and emphasizes the importance of transparent reporting of methodological decisions. In light of previous inconsistencies in reporting, such guidance is essential to strengthen methodological rigor.By adopting more robust methodological strategies, ethical and scientific standards in study design and data collection can be strengthened.

PMID:
42502375
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 26 Jul 2026.

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