'More like a partnership': A qualitative evaluation of Communication Coaching for Sonographers (CCS) in obstetric ultrasound

Introduction: Sonographers are required to deliver unexpected news to expectant parents in real time during obstetric ultrasound scans. The complexity of these interactions requires sonographers to conduct the clinical task while communicating their findings and managing the expectant parent's response within the designated appointment time. Communication coaching for sonographers (CCS) is a tailored intervention that has previously been associated with improvements in confidence and news delivery practice. The current study explored the views and experiences of sonographers who completed CCS to evaluate and inform future delivery of this intervention.

Methods: Nine sonographers participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews after completing CCS. We analysed data using a Reflexive Thematic Analysis (RTA) approach.

Results: Participants reported CCS to be valuable and informative. The key themes identified included (1) innovating the path: tailored and novel training for sonographers, (2) humanising care: honouring the self, service-users and relevant others in the delivery of compassion-focused care and (3) making space: considerations for successfully delivering coaching. Participants said the coaching provided practical suggestions and was experienced as a 'safe space' for reflective practice that helped to enhance their capacity to identify and respond to emotion in others. There were practical challenges to taking part in CCS and organisational factors could act as a barrier; managerial championing of the intervention was crucial to uptake and completion.

Conclusions: Participants viewed CCS positively. To implement CCS, there needs to be organisational coordination. Further controlled studies will be needed to establish the effectiveness of CCS.