Social Media and Health Communication

This assignment delves into the growing influence of social media in the realm of healthcare. It examines various applications of social media platforms for communication, collaboration, and information dissemination within the healthcare sector. The analysis covers topics such as patient-physician interactions, online support groups, health education campaigns, and the potential benefits and challenges associated with social media in healthcare.

Communication in Health and
Social Care

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Theories of communication to HSC......................................................................................1
1.2 Use of communication skills in Health &Social care...........................................................2
1.3 Methods of dealing with inappropriate interpersonal communication between HSC setting
.....................................................................................................................................................3
1.4 Use of strategies to support users with specific communication needs................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Influence on communication process by values and culture factors.....................................5
2.2 Impacts of charters, code of practices and legislation on communication process in HSC..5
2.3 Effectiveness of organisational system and policies in promoting good practices in
communication............................................................................................................................6
2.4 Suggest ways for improving communication process in health and social care...................7
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
3.1 Access and use standard ICT software package to support work.........................................8
3.2 Benefits of using ICT in HSC for users, care workers and care organisation......................9
3.3 Analysis of legal consideration in use of ICT impact on HSC context..............................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Health and social care are the services providers who used to render quality based
services to ultimate users (Antheunis, Tates and Nieboer, 2013). HSC cover all aspects like
medical treatment such as doctors, nurses etc. Their major objective is to provide services for
making all of their patient and reduce risk factors as well (Bennett, 2010). This assignment is
based on Forest Health care who have to make appropriate communication process between staff
and employees. In health and social care it is essential to facilitate proper chain and for this there
are several theories are identify which have to describe in a proper manner. Along with this,
various number of factors are identify which affect communication process of HSC (Forest
Healthcare). Information and communication technology plays a vital role in business through
which management can render quality based services to ultimate consumers. There are several
legislations are also formed in such consent which have to analyse properly for organising ICT
properly.
TASK 1
1.1 Theories of communication to HSC
Communication plays an important role in making all business process effectively and
efficiently. It enable an entity to facilitate all operations in an adequate manner so that chances of
deviations get decline. Mainly there are two major forms of communication are identify which
are:
Verbal
Non verbal
Good Communication and interpersonal skills are helpful for effective health and social
care working. There are various number of theories are identify which facilitate proper
communication process in an entity. Forest Health care managers have to determine all theories
which are taking place in an organisation and used them to make adequate exchange of
information process for delivering quality based services. Several number of theories for this
relation are as follow:
Social learning theory: This theory of communication and learning provided by Bandura and
also known as Bandura social learning theory poists that people learn from one another on the
basis of observation, imitation and modelling. This theory work as a bridge between behaviourist
1

theory and cognitive theory as it encompasses attention, memory and motivation. Forest health
managers can use this theory by interacting with senior authorities, attending seminars and with
other staff members as well. This enable them in improving their working in towards patients
and users.
Humanistic theory: According to this theory of psychology, it get identify that whole human
body perspective analysis is must. Determination of uniqueness of a person work as an essential
tool through which learning and communicating with others become easy (Coulter and et. al.,
2014). Forest health care managers have to analyse the perspective of every individual and
communicate with them according to their behaviour and performance of working. This enable
them in transferring and learning right things towards appropriate direction as well.
Managers of health and social care have to apply both of these theory properly in their
working and operation through which they can render quality based services according to
behaviour of an individual. Along with this, they will also get learn many new things from
environment and other individual perspective.
1.2 Use of communication skills in Health &Social care
Skills are work as an integrated portion for an individual through which their working
pattern get improved and become more effective and appropriate in nature as well. All
communication skill are helpful in working an adequate manner and provide quality based
services to users as well (Betancourt and et. al., 2016). Forest health care have to analyse
communication skills properly so that they become able to deal with various number of
individuals properly. Following are several number of communication skills are identify which
enable HSC managers to operate their working properly and make success of workplace as well:
Listening: While delivering quality based services, it is essential to determine the view points of
all users properly and then deliver quality based services properly. In HSC context, management
have to ensure all information about patients and then render services according to needs and
requirements.
Clarity: With a flow of information, sometimes individual forgot about clarity of message and
this will affect working at a workplace. Forest Health care managers have to provide clear
information about all aspects to staff members so that they can work in an adequate manner.
Friendliness: Maintain friendly environment at workplace will increase chances of success and
resolve all the issues between employees as well. It enable in make feel an individual more
2

respected and appreciated towards their working. Users of health and social care required
services with a friendly behaviour from the side of management otherwise they feel
uncomfortable to share their views properly (Epstein and Street, 2011).
Respect: Treat everyone equally and with respect as well. This will increase chances of success
more as well as individual get encourage. Forest Healthcare managers have to respect each and
every of their staff members along with users of an entity as well. This will support them in
making more satisfied patients and enhance goodwill of HSC.
By using all these communication skills properly, management of Forest health care
create better and effective environment with in their territory. Along with this, their patient feel
more comfortable and appreciated when gain services from HSC.
1.3 Methods of dealing with inappropriate interpersonal communication between HSC setting
Interpersonal communication process is one in which two individuals come together for
exchange of information through face to face interaction. In appropriate interpersonal
communication affect working and environment of health and social care. Thus, to deal with
them, management have to use adequate methods to deal with them properly. Several number of
techniques which have to apply in organisational context are as follow:
Confidentiality of information: One of a major approach through which inappropriate
communication process can be deal out is to maintain confidentiality of information. If any sort
of carelessness get identify with exchange of information then the trust upon which care
relationship is built will be lost (Grajales and et. al., 2012).
Monitoring about listening: Another method through which effective interpersonal
communication can be facilitate is listening. Thus, for this, company have to take proper
feedback from client with whom care workers deal. Along with this, written feedback also can
gain from same client in making effective communication.
Inappropriate interpersonal communication between individuals of HSC can affect
working and management or satisfaction and delivery of services as well. Thus, management of
Forest Healthcare have to analyse adequate methods through which they can deal with this
process. This inadequate interpersonal communication affect the whole HSC setting and
environment as well. By considering these aspects, social care staff members have to make
proper communication chain which enable them in dealing with all sort of differences.
3

Staff have to maintain confidentiality of information of every care user which support
them in dealing maintain proper relationship between management and members of organisation.
This aid in building trust and faith on a company. Along with this, when training is providing to
staff members, managers have to monitor them out that they are listening properly or not. Along
with this, they have to take feedback from client as well about service delivering and behaviour
of staff towards them.
1.4 Use of strategies to support users with specific communication needs
Strategies enable management to work in an adequate manner and facilitate to attain and
accomplish all targets on time. In health and social care, every user have several specific needs
and thus their satisfaction level and procurement of services is also different from each other.
Thus, chances of not meeting to criteria is more and it affect whole working operations as well.
Forest healthcare provide more and more services to their users and work in favour of
society as well. They provide standardised services with an aim to fulfil every user specific needs
and requirement. In a health care it get analyse that some people are suffering from learning
disabilities and few of them have sensory disability. Thus, both of them have specific needs
which have to fulfil in an adequate manner and for this HSC have to prepare several strategies
which enable them to deal with such responses. Hence, a proper action plan get formulate by
care workers so that they can work on such aspect.
Care workers have to maintain and prepare a proper chain under which they provide
opportunity to client to define their needs and requirement by making a verbal communication
process. Along with this, care workers also have to prepare several strategies which are related to
non verbal process by learning sign language for people who have learning disability.
Active listening strategy enable an organisation to deal with such number of people who
are suffering from learning disability. By using appropriate strategy for specific needs will
support in dealing with every individual in a proper manner. It will support to fulfil their needs
and requirement according to them and satisfy through that as well.
Sensory disable people are those who are not able to understand few facts properly. For
them, management have to use various pictures, graphs, charts and advertisement which aid them
in their better understandability. This plan will support them in dealing with such sort of people
and their specific need also get satisfy with this.
4

TASK 2
2.1 Influence on communication process by values and culture factors
Every organisation have common value which is work in favour of society but their
culture are distinct from each other. Some use power culture whether few of them adopt person
centred culture. These two factors made a vast impact on the process of communication in
context of health and social care. Thus, a major duty which have to perform by care workers is to
identify values of their clients and render services according to that by neglecting poor
communication process (Keckley and Hoffmann, 2010).
Management have to treat all of their users with same respect and care rather than focus
on single culture. As a care workers their duty if just to provide quality based services not
focusing on what caste, colour or sex a person belong to. Care workers always have to keep in
mind that every culture and religion is equal so that user do not feel that they are treated in a
disrespectful manner (Greene and et. al., 2011).
Forest health care managers communication process might get affect or influenced
according to culture and value factors. From past few months a very critical thing was in notice
to all managers that care workers differentiate between local people and tourist who are belong
to other nation. Care workers do not treat local personalities properly and not provide proper
information to them as well. Hence, authority have to provide them proper training to work in
multi culture context so that every client will be treated properly. Multicultural aspect believe in
only one culture and value which is humanity but nothing else. Hence, for dealing with a
different culture and value personality, workers do not have to think once about what religion
and values are they belonging but treat them with appropriate respect and dignity. It is their
major duty and they should have to follow it properly.
2.2 Impacts of charters, code of practices and legislation on communication process in HSC
Good practice in health and social care is an essential element for effective operations of
working. Thus, in relation with communication this fact get done through adopting many new
techniques and approaches. Forest healthcare workers and managers have to analyse all
legislations which frame by government in such consent through which proper communication
can be maintain. Although, management have to maintain confidentiality in their information
5

process and staff members have to learn about this. Various laws which frame for this
perspective are as follow: Equality act, 2010: Care workers have to provide services to every user with same
appreciation with making any differentiation based on caste, culture and religion or
values. If Forest health care workers void this act then user have a right to file a case
against them. Data protection act, 1998: It is a duty of care workers to maintain proper confidentiality
of their data of their users. It aid them in makings a good relationship and communication
process with every users. This is another major law which bound organisation members
to share their data and information with others.
 Access to health records, 1990: Every health care organisation have to maintain their data
protected from any sort of interference. But access of health records enable an individual
to inspect the records at any time for removing inconvenience and incorrect information
from records.
All these three legislation have to properly understand by care workers so that they can deliver
quality based services and maintain proper communication chain as well (Insel and et. al., 2011).
If any sort of difference get identify in communication chain then management get sue by
individual.
Health and Care Professions Council Standards of Proficiency for Social Workers revised
a standard of proficiency of social workers in England. Every individual who complete their
social work training have to get register under the HCPC for better knowledge about what to do
and how to do. According to this, every social and health care workers have to follow several
code of practices which enable them in performing all things in an appropriate manner. Forest
healthcare individuals have to learn all these things in a proper manner and work under by
following code of practices.
2.3 Effectiveness of organisational system and policies in promoting good practices in
communication
Good practices in communication enable management to work and attain all targets on
time (Kitson and et. al., 2013). Every organisational system is different from each other which
are related with their process and procedure. Staff members have to analyse their roles and
responsibilities properly so that they become able to deliver their services to client adequately.
6

From this, every member better know about that who will report to whom. This organisational
system effectiveness enhance the productivity of management. Along with this, working
instructions have to be follow by every individual properly so that they can attain all target and
goals on time (Kreps and Neuhauser, 2010).
Along with this, management have to formulate proper policies for their working. In such
relation, management have to prepare this for making confidentiality in their information or data
process. This aid them in gaining the trust and faith of every users which are utilising the
services of health care. Also, they have to prepare some regulations which are related with
bullying because anti bullying forms have to fill by the care workers. This signifies that proper
management will be framed at workplace.
On the basis of policies and system every individual become able to better know about
their reporting relationship that who will going to report whom. This process will support in
transferring message towards a right person to the right time by avoiding every sort of
duplication. Along with this chances of proper and adequate information transformation also get
done in a more adequate manner. Forest healthcare have to prepare proper policies on which
every of their care worker will going to work. Moreover, on the basis of proper system, every
individual become able to better know about their reporting relationship. This aid them in
increase their productivity and profitability of business.
2.4 Suggest ways for improving communication process in health and social care
Communication is a process through which a person become able to convey their
messages to other one. It plays an important role in making betterment of an organisation and
facilitate future development as well. Hence, an individual have to identify major number of
sources which provide support in improving the communication process in health and social care
by removing all barriers (Moorhead and et. al., 2013). Barriers of communication are related
with noise, technical etc. which enable in transferring message from one person to another. Thus,
it is essential to improve communication process in health and social care. Forest healthcare have
to use adequate ways which support them in improving their social care practices and deliver
quality based services to users. Openness: Crate openness in environment through which every care workers can take
active participation in discussion process for more effective results and output.
7

 Participation in interaction: Management have to focus on starting a interaction process
which facilitate every individual to interact with high authority as well as their co
workers (Reeves and et. al., 2011).
 Make communication process more informative: Another form of improvement in
communication process is to make the process more informative in which every person
have to provide proper data about their users properly so that they will not face any sort
of barrier.
These are the several ways which support to Forest Healthcare in making their communication
process more appropriate. By making openness in environment every workers become able to
convey their message properly. Along with this, in case of issues, management have to organise
a interaction procedure in which member become able to interact with one other and work on
their problems. Also, care workers have to pass information in more informative manner through
which satisfaction level of users get enhance. This will support them in doing and performing the
facts and things more properly and adequately.
TASK 3
3.1 Access and use standard ICT software package to support work
ICT refer to as such process which enable in transferring information through
telecommunication process. Diverse set of tools and resources used to communicate and create
information properly (Moule and Hek, 2011). Along with this, it also disseminate the
information in more appropriate manner. ICT primarily focuses on communication technology in
which use of internet, wireless networks, cell phones etc. are important means of
communication. Effectively use of ICT will support in performing all the things in a proper and
adequate manner.
There are various number of standard ICT software packages are determine to support
working and operations. Thus, it is essential duty to manage all things in more adequate manner
and deliver of quality based services become easy as well. There are various number of software
in relation with standard working are identify out of them Web 2.0 sociable technologies and
social software are appropriate for all the social and health organisations.
Web 2.0 sociable technology features includes, social networking sites and social media
sites, collaborative consumptions platforms and mash-up applications. By using this technology,
8

every person is now become able to maintain and resolve their health related issues by using
various number of websites. Thus, for an individual perspective this information software is
useful for long term context (Sheldon, 2011).
But there are several number of issues are also identify for all social workers in health
sector from ICT which affect the effectiveness of their working. Members do not have to trust
the data which provided by software because not all the time it is appropriate. Data is also not
secure in nature because it might get stolen and use by some other organisational bodies. Thus
Forest healthcare personnel have to use and identify all these things properly and use software
properly. By overcoming and minimising all sort of problems, information and communication
technology provide so much benefit to health care.
3.2 Benefits of using ICT in HSC for users, care workers and care organisation
Information and communication technology have several benefits for every person who is
related with it. In health and social care, this process enable in better decision making and
identifying the needs of their services users as well. Care workers can use ICT as a beneficial
tool for analysing the new methods to deal with variety number of problems and identify their
treatment by using various search engines. Care organisation can use the data from internet as a
example to deliver services properly (Thornton and et. al., 2011).
By using ICT, health care organisation and improve their service practices more
effectively. Special policies and initiative get created to satisfy the needs of care workers.
Several number of benefits for forest health care users, care workers and care organisation are as
follow:
 By using information and communication technology, company can record all of their
positive and effective outcomes. It also enable in improves care working practices
through which all transitions get done in an appropriate manner. By consulting this
technique, service users become able to gain benefit, because all existing records will get
utilise for a particular cause.
 Reduce the number of failure which are taking place between various medical errors. ICT
make the process more integrated in nature and enable to analyse the records in more
adequate manner. Along with this, ICT also support in maintain a relation between
stakeholders groups and organisational delivery system.
9

 Use of new technology provide benefit to care workers to reduce the chances of risk and
uncertainty as well. At workplace, many new sort of alarm system get implemented
which facilitate to reduce the chances of unforeseen calamities. Video monitoring will
support in analysing the risk in more frequent manner as well as secure the whole entity
at one place as well.
These are several benefits which support health care users, care organisation and workers of an
organisation. This analysis is helpful to maintain proper activities flow at workplace and enhance
experience of users more properly. This enhancement will support in increasing the satisfaction
level of service users. Along with this proper monitoring of activities will provide benefits to
care organisation through which al risk factor get ascertain in advance and also get decline as
well. These are the several benefits which Forest Healthcare take in account and deliver their
services according to users perspective and increase their productivity as well.
3.3 Analysis of legal consideration in use of ICT impact on HSC context
Information and communication technology is new and advances feature element for
every business organisation. In health and social care context, management have to use ICT
properly so that they can resolve all problems and issues in an appropriate manner. For
safeguarding the interest of various number of people which are related with health care various
legislations have been formed with a purpose to minimise adverse impact on HSC. In such
perspective, several major laws which are frame for this consideration and have to associate with
Forest Health care are as follow: Data protection act, 2008: Every organisation have to use essential steps through which
they can secure their data. All important communication which is related with clients are
listed in a data which created by management. Hence, maintaining its confidentiality is a
major thing. Forest health care management have to consider the data protection act,
2008 which is a revised preparation of act 2001. Organisation have to secure all data and
information of their users properly so that they are not going to share their information
with others.
 Health and safety act, 2008: Another act which is related with employees and associate is
health and safety act which get incorporated in the year 2008. according to this act,
management have to use proper steps through which they can maintain such sort of
environment which is free and appropriate for all individuals at workplace. Along with
10

this, if an organisation share the private details of an individual with others will result in
sue against them.
Thus, management have to identify all these things in an appropriate manner and maintain the
goodwill of a company properly. In case if management disobey or harm any of the law then
individual have a right to take a serious step against them.
CONCLUSION
According to above report context, it is clearly get identify that communication plays a
key role in context of health and social care. It provide support to deal with every sort of service
users and identify their needs and requirement as well. Along with this, various skills of
communication promote ethical working which are based on several theories. Moreover, HSC
have to use proper methods through which they can remove inappropriate interpersonal
communication process between various deli-gents. Strategies have to prepare for every user
whom have specific needs and believe in multi culture aspect. Several legislations also have been
passed for effective communication process in HSC context which have to follow properly.
Information and communication technology is a new sort of software which provide several
number of benefits to HSC in making effective communication process.
11

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Antheunis, M.L., Tates, K. and Nieboer, T.E., 2013. Patients’ and health professionals’ use of
social media in health care: motives, barriers and expectations. Patient education and
counseling. 92(3). pp.426-431.
Bennett, P. ed., 2010. Risk communication and public health. Oxford University Press.
Betancourt, J.R. and et. al., 2016. Defining cultural competence: a practical framework for
addressing racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care. Public health reports.
Coulter, A. and et. al., 2014. Collecting data on patient experience is not enough: they must be
used to improve care. BMJ: British Medical Journal. 348.
Epstein, R.M. and Street, R.L., 2011. The values and value of patient-centered care.
Grajales III, F.J. and et. al., 2014. Social media: a review and tutorial of applications in medicine
and health care. Journal of medical Internet research. 16(2).
Greene, J.A. and et. al., 2011. Online social networking by patients with diabetes: a qualitative
evaluation of communication with Facebook. Journal of general internal medicine. 26(3).
pp.287-292.
Insel, P. and et. al., 2011. Core concepts in health.
Keckley, P.H. and Hoffmann, M., 2010. Social networks in health care: Communication,
collaboration and insights. Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. pp.1-9.
Kitson, A. and et. al., 2013. What are the core elements of patient‐centred care? A narrative
review and synthesis of the literature from health policy, medicine and nursing. Journal of
advanced nursing. 69(1). pp.4-15.
Kreps, G.L. and Neuhauser, L., 2010. New directions in eHealth communication: opportunities
and challenges. Patient education and counseling. 78(3). pp.329-336.
Moorhead, S.A. and et. al., 2013. A new dimension of health care: systematic review of the uses,
benefits, and limitations of social media for health communication. Journal of medical Internet
research. 15(4).
Moule, P. and Hek, G., 2011. Making sense of research: an introduction for health and social
care practitioners. Sage.
Reeves, S. and et. al., 2011. Interprofessional teamwork for health and social care (Vol. 8). John
Wiley & Sons.
12

Sheldon, B., 2011. Cognitive-behavioural therapy: Research and practice in health and social
care. Routledge.
Thornton, R.L.J. and et. al., 2011. Patient–physician social concordance, medical visit
communication and patients’ perceptions of health care quality. Patient education and
counseling. 85(3). pp.e201-e208.
13