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ABSTRACT TITLE: Extent of utilization of therapeutic communication technique in the provision of comfort among vehicular accident patients RESEARCHERS: Al Jerome Cruz Roma Lissa Dorado Sarah christine Gernale Florian grace Gutierrez Nephritery grace Espiritu Patrick Pantua Euginie Victoria Tompong DEGREE CONFERRED: SCHOOL: ADVISER: DATE COMPLETED: NO. OF PAGES: Bachelor of Science in Nursing Manila Doctors College Dr. Maridith Afuang R.N., M.D., MPH, August 2010

This study aims to determine utilization of selected therapeutic communication techniques namely using humor, sharing empathy and providing information in the provision of comfort among vehicular accident patients in Philippine Orthopedic Center. Furthermore, to determine to what extent do physical and environmental comforts were met using the therapeutic communication techniques. Furthermore, to find out if there is a

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significant difference in the provision of comfort in terms of the extent of utilization of the three therapeutic communication techniques. The research design employed in this study is a Descriptive-Quantitative Study. Self-made questionnaire was used as the main research instrument for this study. The sampling method used was purposive sampling with the following criteria; namely, must be 18-26 yrs of age, must be admitted at Philippine Orthopedic Center, and must be a vehicular accident patient. The researchers used the mean values, standard deviation and T-test as statistical treatments for this study. The following are the findings in the study. In terms of the extent of utilization of therapeutic communication techniques in the provision of comfort among vehicular accident patients, providing information appeared to have the highest extent of utilization than sharing empathy and using humor. In terms of extent of comfort met using the therapeutic communication, the physical aspect of comfort has the highest extent of comfort than the environmental aspect of comfort. Finally, there is a significance difference between the therapeutic communication techniques, namely using humor, sharing empathy and providing information. The researchers conclude that the vehicular accident patients in their situation and condition need more knowledge about their disease process and treatment. It is also concluded by the researchers that the physical aspect of comfort is met more than the environmental aspect, for the reason that the physiologic needs should be met first before the other needs. The therapeutic communication techniques; namely, using humor, sharing empathy and providing information were concluded to be entirely independent of each other.

The researchers suggest that clinical instructors and staff from the guidance department constantly educate their students of the appropriateness of using therapeutic communication technique in terms of when to use them and for whom to use them. The researchers also recommend that school administrators organized seminars and workshop about the proper implementation of providing information for vehicular accident patients. Another suggestion for the future researchers, that a study be made to other kinds of therapeutic communication techniques to trauma patients that was not covered in the study, in order to discover other means to achieve the different aspects of comfort. Lastly the researchers suggest that study be made about the appropriate therapeutic communication techniques to chronic patients on order to determine which of these therapeutic communication techniques will increase their quality of life.