The State and Trends in the Field of Hospital Communication
Ernesto Bataller-Alonso a, Sofia Aparisi-Torrijo b, Sofia Estelles-Miguel b, and Marta Peris-Ortiz b,c
aFacultad de Medicina y Odontología, Universitat Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir; bBusiness Organisation Department, Universitat Politècnica
de València; cMBA Department, CETYS University
ABSTRACT
Communication is recognized by the scientific community as one of the most important elements in the
success of organizations. In hospital settings, communication is also key for all those involved in patient
care, both at a strategic and operational level. This article aims to analyze the current research front on
the application and impact of communication in hospitals among healthcare professionals and/or
patients and their families, presenting the foundation, current structure and trends in academic research
in this area through bibliometric analysis using performance and impact metrics, bibliographic co-
citation and keyword co-occurrence analysis. A total of 566 articles from the WoS Core Collection
published between 2012 and 2024 were analyzed. This is an area of growing interest but with a still
limited impact. Collaborative networks show little synergy between international institutions, with the
USA being the country with the greatest predominance and influence. A key finding is the scientific
systematization of the origins of knowledge into four dimensions: doctor-patient communication;
improving communication by reducing barriers; communication in patient transitions and discharges;
and the methodologies used in this field. Current key research topics include communication between
healthcare professionals and patients and/or relatives, patient safety, quality improvement, and as an
emerging trend, parents and communication skills. This study aims to provide researchers in the field,
hospital organizations, and policymakers with an overview of research directions and a valuable source of
knowledge for defining new research lines, institutional strategies, and policies to improve patient safety.
Introduction
Hospitals are complex organizational systems where healthcare
professionals continuously interact to coordinate patient care,
ensure safety and foster trust in a high-pressure, rapidly chan-
ging environment while minimize risks and errors (Bagnara
et al., 2010; Coiera & Tombs, 1998; Epstein et al., 2005). In this
context, effective hospital communication becomes an essential
pillar in healthcare quality (Ruben, 2016), patient safety and
satisfaction (Burgener, 2020) and healthcare professional satis-
faction (Barrett et al., 2023).
In hospital organizations, communication is a dynamic and
cross-cutting process. It has a multifaceted role that extends
intra- and extra-organizationally, connecting multidisciplinary
healthcare teams, patients and their families as well as different
healthcare organizations (Kim et al., 2010). On the one hand, it
involves the exchange of information between physicians,
nurses, technicians, administrators and other healthcare mem-
bers and organizations, which is vital to ensure that patients
receive proper care and avoid medical errors (Barrett et al.,
2023). On the other hand, communication processes are also
essential for patients to more accurately report their situation
and better understand treatments by improving adherence to
them (Zolnierek & DiMatteo, 2009). This reduces uncertainty,
increases their engagement in decision making (Umar et al.,
2012; You et al., 2015), enhances social support, prevention
and wellness (Ruben, 2016). Consequently, communication in
healthcare is linked to both increased patient satisfaction
(Hesse & Rauscher, 2019) and healthcare professional satisfac-
tion (Carletto et al., 2021; Cho et al., 2023; Holá et al., 2020)
and this has a positive impact on organizational productivity
and effectiveness (Rehim et al., 2017).
However, hospital communication extends beyond mere
data transmission; it not only facilitates information
exchange, but also structures interactions, assigns meaning,
and fosters trust among professionals, departments and
patients (Barrett et al., 2021). From a constitutive perspective,
organizations are built through communication practices that
shape shared roles, relationships, and values (Taylor & Van
Every, 2010). In hospitals, continuous interactions are essen-
tial for coordination (Ellis et al., 2023) and drive both orga-
nizational and cultural transformation (Sittig & Singh, 2010).
Communication serves as the foundation of the organiza-
tional fabric, influencing critical aspects such as patient safety
culture (Barrett et al., 2021); professional identities, which
define roles and relationships within the hospital (Butler &
Fox, 2019); and interdepartmental dynamics. These dynamics
are sustained through formal and informal communication
practices that align diverse teams toward shared goals (Moen
et al., 2016; Sittig & Singh, 2010). Ultimately, communication
acts as both a catalyst and facilitator of organizational change,
amplifying its impact across all levels of the hospital (Zerfass
et al., 2018).
CONTACT Sofia Aparisi-Torrijo soaptor@omp.upv.es Business Organisation Department, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
HEALTH COMMUNICATION
2026, VOL. 41, NO. 5, 750–766
https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2025.2532156
© 2025 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/),
which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. The
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Within these different research paradigms, hospital com-
munication is widely acknowledged as a critical factor in
organizational safety, patient safety, and the satisfaction of
healthcare professionals and patients (Barrett et al., 2023;
Burgener, 2020). However, a comprehensive overview of the
field is lacking. This gap is particularly concerning given the
increasing complexity of hospital organizations (Ellis et al.,
2023) and the growing emphasis on patient-centered care
and patient safety (Howick et al., 2024). To address this, our
study employs a bibliometric analysis to map the state of
hospital communication research, examine its knowledge
foundations, highlight current challenges, and identify emer-
ging trends. To date, no other bibliometric study has been
conducted with a specific analysis of hospital communication
within a recent timeframe. Unlike prior research which have
explored hospital communication, this study offers
a quantitative analysis of research trends, addressing
a significant gap in the literature.
This study makes several contributions to the field. First, it
provides an overview of the status and trends in hospital
communication research, offering valuable insights to
researchers for future lines of research; to healthcare profes-
sionals interested in improving effective communication prac-
tices; and to policymakers who can benefit from identifying
key factors for improving hospital patient care. Secondly, it
identifies gaps in the literature, such as the need for cross-
cultural studies, paving the way for future research. Finally, it
highlights the importance of integrating communication
research into health policy and practice to improve patient
outcomes and organizational efficiency.
The rest of the paper is organized as follows. The first
section presents the literature review and research questions.
The second section presents the methodology and data used.
The next section reports the results. The penultimate section
shows the discussion of the study, and the Conclusion presents
the implications, limitations and future research.
Literature review
Research on hospital communication has explored several key
domains, including patient-professional communication,
interprofessional communication among clinical teams, the
impact of information technology, and the influence of com-
munication on organizational culture. Understanding these
dimensions is crucial to identifying current gaps and future
directions in the field.
Patient-professional communication
Communication between healthcare professionals and patients
is one of the fundamental pillars of medical care (Matusitz &
Spear, 2014), as it plays a crucial role in every stage of the
clinical process, from anamnesis and diagnosis to treatment
and follow-up (Haywood et al., 2006). Effective communica-
tion enhances the quality of care, ensures patient safety, and
improves clinical outcomes (Matusitz & Spear, 2014).
Additionally, clear and structured communication reduces
the risk of misdiagnosis and helps prevent medical disputes
(Wang et al., 2024). Beyond its clinical impact, an effective and
empathetic interaction enables healthcare professionals to bet-
ter interpret physical symptoms while also considering the
patient’s psychosocial and cultural context (Matusitz &
Spear, 2014). This facilitates a clearer understanding of the
diagnosis and treatment options, increasing patient adherence
to therapy and reducing anxiety (Chichirez & Purcărea, 2018;
Zolnierek & DiMatteo, 2009).
However, several factors can affect this interaction. First,
patient care often lacks a holistic perspective (Ventegodt et al.,
2016), as healthcare professionals tend to focus primarily on
clinical aspects, overlooking key elements such as patients’
treatment preferences (Levinson et al., 2010), their socioeco-
nomic context, and the emotional and spiritual support pro-
vided by their families (Graetz et al., 2021). Additionally,
cultural and linguistic differences, the use of complex medical
terminology, and time constraints during consultations serve
as communication barriers that may lead to misunderstand-
ings and medical errors (Barrett et al., 2023). At times, health-
care professionals exhibit a lack of empathy and attentiveness,
disregarding patients’ feelings of anxiety (Street et al., 2009;
Tracey et al., 2024). Finally, some professionals lack effective
communication skills and underestimate the importance of
developing them, which limits their ability to interact success-
fully with patients (Levinson et al., 2010).
These barriers hinder communication, impact decision-
making, and compromise clinical outcomes (Kwame &
Petrucka, 2021). To overcome these challenges, several strate-
gies have been proposed. A key approach is patient-centered
communication, which fosters more effective interaction and
a personalized patient-physician relationship. Epstein et al.
(2005) identify four fundamental domains in this model:
patient perspective, psychosocial context, shared understand-
ing, and power and responsibility sharing. Empirical evidence
supports that this approach enhances care quality and treat-
ment adherence, thereby improving therapeutic outcomes and
empowering patients in managing their health (Kwame &
Petrucka, 2021; Matusitz & Spear, 2014; Zhong et al., 2019).
Additionally, training in cultural competence and com-
munication skills is essential for healthcare professionals
(Khanna et al., 2009). Cultural competence training enhances
communication quality and facilitates care for patients with
limited health literacy (Wynia & Osborn, 2010). Moreover,
developing communication skills is crucial to fostering empa-
thetic interactions, active listening, and the use of clear,
accessible language tailored to the patient’s needs (Hesse &
Rauscher, 2019; Jang et al., 2022).
In conclusion, enhancing communication between patients
and healthcare professionals not only strengthens their rela-
tionship but also improves care quality, patient safety, and
satisfaction (Burgener, 2020). Moreover, it contributes to
safer, more compassionate care, benefiting both patients and
the healthcare system (Hesse & Rauscher, 2019).
Interprofessional communication between clinical teams
A characteristic feature of healthcare is the wide range of
professionals involved in the diagnosis, treatment, and
continuous care of patients (Boaden & Leaviss, 2000). For
this reason, effective communication among healthcare
HEALTH COMMUNICATION 751
quality of care (Caswell et al., 2015; Strang et al., 2020).
Cultural and linguistic differences are also another obstacle
to effective communication between staff and patients
(Pun, 2021). Another element to consider in patient safety
is communication at discharge as ineffective transitions of
care remain a source of risk for patients. It is vital to
improve the quality of communication at hospital-to-
home transfer (Buurman et al., 2016) and to perform
a correct transition to primary care (Belleli et al., 2013;
Munchhof et al., 2020).
Theme 3: quality improvement
The research in this group addresses the relevance of the
quality of communication between the different actors within
the healthcare ecosystem during key transitions across the
healthcare system. Studies analyze the optimization of critical
processes such as hospital transfer (King et al., 2013), commu-
nication during hospital admission (Leyenaar et al., 2015),
home discharge (Jones et al., 2019), nursing home transfer
(Lagacé et al., 2021), and interactions between different health-
care professionals (Kalanithi et al., 2013). This body of litera-
ture converges in identifying the pivotal role of nursing staff in
patient interactions, assigning them a broader formative and
empathic role (Singh et al., 2019).
The next group is made up of two different domain areas.
Theme 4: parents
The literature on pediatric health communication reveals sig-
nificant patterns in family-professional interaction. The par-
ent-healthcare provider relationship is a central determinant of
quality of care and satisfaction with care (Labrie et al., 2021).
The increasing technological dependence in pediatric patients
demands specific communicative adaptations from the nur-
sing staff (Giambra et al., 2014). These findings converge in the
need to develop structured interventions and methodological
recommendations for research with families during pediatric
hospitalizations (Svavarsdottir et al., 2012), evidencing family
communication as an essential component in the optimization
of child or adolescent care.
Theme 5: communication skills
Research on communication skills in the healthcare setting
reveals a fundamental relationship between quality of care
and patient as well as professional satisfaction and perfor-
mance (Karimi et al., 2024). Studies show that training in
these competencies significantly reduces professional burnout,
especially in nursing (Darban et al., 2016), highlighting the
effectiveness of specific training and coaching interventions
(Lord et al., 2016). This line of research identifies persistent
communication deficiencies among physicians, interns and
adjunct faculty, so hospital authorities should pay attention
to their improvement (Paudel et al., 2019).
In conclusion, this study identifies five key areas in hospital
communication. (1) Communication between healthcare pro-
fessionals and patients, addressing coordination in care transi-
tions (King et al., 2013), nurse-manager interactions (Marx
et al., 2014), and hierarchical barriers affecting teamwork
(Rehim et al., 2017). (2) Patient safety, where poor commu-
nication contributes to adverse events, especially in patients
with communication disabilities (Jensen et al., 2015), end-of-
life care (Caswell et al., 2015), or hospital discharge (Buurman
et al., 2016). (3) Quality improvement, focused on optimizing
communication across different care phases and the educa-
tional role of nurses (Singh et al., 2019). (4) Interaction with
parents and children, crucial in pediatrics, particularly with the
increasing role of technology in child healthcare (Giambra
et al., 2014). (5) Communication skills, where training
enhances patient satisfaction (Karimi et al., 2024) and reduces
staff burnout (Darban et al., 2016).
Emerging trends include the integration of patient safety
with the reduction of communication barriers, the shift in
decision-making toward palliative care and the increasing use
of artificial intelligence in clinical management (Khan et al.,
2023).
Discussion
Hospital communication is a fundamental pillar of healthcare
quality (Ruben, 2016), patient safety and satisfaction
(Burgener, 2020), healthcare professional satisfaction and
organizational cohesion (Barrett et al., 2023). Despite its
importance, the field is of recent interest to the scientific
community, leading to gaps in understanding collaboration
networks, intellectual foundations of knowledge, and current
and emerging key topics. This bibliometric analysis is the first
to evaluate research on communication in the hospital setting,
offering not just a descriptive mapping but also an interpretive
framework that situates communication at the intersection of
clinical coordination, organizational transformation, and
patient-centered care.
One of the most noteworthy findings is the limited inter-
national collaboration in the field. The findings reveal
a predominance of research from institutions in the United
States, Australia and the United Kingdom. Although these
countries show strong intra-national collaboration, other
international partnerships are scarce.
This concentration of productivity in a few countries sug-
gests an imbalance in the global research landscape, which
could limit the diversity of perspectives and hinder the devel-
opment of universally applicable solutions (Glänzel, 2001).
When scientific production is led by nations with greater
resources, their priorities and approaches reflect their socio-
cultural, technological, economic, and organizational interests,
which may limit the diversity of perspectives and exacerbate
inequalities, including gender gaps and structural biases
(Hicks et al., 2015). In this context, elite research groups may
restrict the evolution of research in emerging economies,
affecting knowledge transfer and compromising the pluralism
and social relevance of scientific progress (Adams, 2013).
The lack of an international dimension can be attributed to
the difficulty of comparing different healthcare systems, as
there is no standard taxonomy for all countries (Ridic et al.,
2012), nor similar levels of development (Street & Smith,
2021). Future efforts should focus on international collabora-
tion, such as joint funding initiatives and interdisciplinary
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