Emotional Communication in Home Care: A comparison between Norway and Sweden

Abstract Objective Given the free movement of workers across countries, knowledge regarding communication differences between countries is imperative. In this study, we explored and compared the supportive responses of nursing staff to older persons’ emotions in home care in Norway and Sweden. Methods The study had an observational, cross-sectional, comparative design, which included 383 audio-recorded home-care visits. Communication was coded using Verona Coding Definitions of Emotional Sequences. Worries and responses were categorised with regard to reference, communicative function and level of person-centredness. Standard statistical tests were used to analyse the data. Results The Swedish nursing staff provided space for further disclosure of worry more frequently than the Norwegian nursing staff (75.0% versus 60.2%, χ2 = 20.758, p  Conclusion The level of person-centredness was associated with the way in which older persons expressed their distress. The Swedish nursing staff provided opportunities for further disclosure of worries more frequently than the Norwegian nursing staff. Practice implications Findings of intercultural differences should be incorporated into the training of nursing staff.