Potentially Inadequate Real-Life Speech Levels by Healthcare Professionals during Communication with Older Inpatients

The aim of this study was to investigate real-life speech levels of health professionals during communication with older inpatients in small group settings. This is a prospective observational study assessing group interactions between geriatric inpatients and health professionals in a geriatric rehabilitation unit of a tertiary university hospital (Bern, Switzerland). We measured speech levels of health professionals during three typical group interactions (discharge planning meeting ( = 21), chair exercise group ( = 5), and memory training group = 5)) with older inpatients. Speech levels were measured using the CESVA LF010 (CESVA instruments s.l.u., Barcelona, Spain). A threshold of