Communication for Health Professionals

Running head: COMMUNICATION FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 1
Communication for Health Professionals
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

COMMUNICATION FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 2
Communication for Health Professionals
Essentially, in a practitioner-patient relationship, the quality that is formed will largely
depend on the time and effort being invested in the development and sustaining the bond.
Additionally, it is worth noting that a health practitioner is set apart on the basis of ability and
experience to narrow down and apply theories and techniques to help people in gaining insight,
awareness and explore possible means of solving issues tied to health. Purposefully, this piece is
centered on reflecting communication skills applied to a patient scenario with the intention of
providing aid to Kirra. She is a 20-year-old who has been referred regarding her mood and
weight concerns.
For the entire assessment, a person-centered approach would best be put to use since it
closely examines the positives of a therapy and discusses the value of health professional ability
to effectively share the key conditions of genuineness, empathy, and unconditional positive
regard to the patient (Stans, Dalemans, Roentgen, Smeets, & Beurskens, 2018). The session
would be kickstarted by a warm greeting before proceeding to break the ice with Kirra through
engaging her in some small talk unrelated to the context to set a calm mood for the session.
Thereupon, I would go forth and explain my role before estimating the length of time I intended
on spending with her. The aforementioned step would be proceeded by mentioning the issue of
confidentiality through friendly and sensitive means.
The first area that is best reflected on is a practitioner attending skills. Therefore, I will
apply both verbal and non-verbal communication cues so as to encourage Kirra into telling her
story. Much of my attention would be focused on her by application of right facial expressions
and maintaining an attentive posture while maintaining appropriate and steady eye contact.

COMMUNICATION FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS 3
Given that this point is key, I would ensure that an open and consistent body language is
maintained for effective communication (Meuter, Gallois, Segalowitz, Ryder, & Hocking, 2015).
Research purports that effective questioning also plays a big role as far as effective
communication is concerned (Waters, Wheeler, & Hamilton, 2016). It helps in identification,
clarification, and breaking down the concerns in question. The conversation will commence with
an open question, for instance, ‘Hey Kirra can you partly tell me what has been happening?’ This
would be helpful in getting information on the issue at hand, further, more information can be
obtained with a follow up open question (Garrett, 2016). However, caution has to be taken on the
number of questions asked so as to ensure free-flow communication.
From the start, it is vital to ensure the patient feels comfortable and relaxed. In that
regard, a non-official and a non-threatening demeanor needs are to be adopted. Given that a
patient’s openness could depend on the extent of how they feel respected. Kirra is a teenager and
at current her BMI of 18 indicates that she is underweight, therefore, there is need to introduce
the mood and weight discussion in a non-judgmental and respectful way (Markowitz, 2018).
Ideally, the non-critical and non-judgmental attitude will help establish a sense of trust thus
providing a calm atmosphere for Kirra to further air her.
Conversely, socio-cultural factors such as age may come to play and dent effective
communication. Kirra is a young lady in her 20. Although, she is unhappy with her condition
there is a possibility that she is going to be somewhat laid back, fairly direct and open as far as
the style of communication is concerned. The conversation with her may be blunt on some
occasions since confidence and directness may lack in expressing her points of view.
Furthermore, in the referral, it is documented that she hides her lack of eating to caregivers