Essay on Communication's Role in Healthcare Settings and Theories

This essay delves into the critical role of communication within healthcare settings, emphasizing its profound impact on patient safety, interdepartmental coordination, and overall patient care. The essay meticulously outlines the essential features of effective communication, including completeness, conciseness, and clarity, while also addressing the common barriers that can impede this process, such as disengagement and language differences. Furthermore, the essay explores various communication theories, such as Behaviorist, Cognitive, Humanistic, Psychodynamic and Shannon and Weaver's model, providing valuable insights into how these frameworks can be applied to improve communication strategies within hospitals and other healthcare environments. The conclusion reinforces the significance of communication, highlighting its importance for delivering accurate messages and ensuring positive patient outcomes.

Essay

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Importance of communication in health care settings.................................................................1
Features of effective communication...........................................................................................2
Barriers of communication..........................................................................................................3
Communication theory.................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Communication refers to making the use of different types of acts so as to communicate
the various types of messages in an effective manner with different people (Ab Aziz, Akashah
and Aziz, 2019). Its use has to be made by the people so that they are able to effectively transmit
the required messages with each other. In health care settings, it is very important because it
helps in the transmission of the messages in the right manner which helps the healthcare
organizations to function well. In this essay, specific and detailed focus will be made on
importance of communication in health care settings, features of effective communication,
barriers and theory of communication.
MAIN BODY
Importance of communication in health care settings
Communication is very important in health care settings (Alexandru, Ianculescu and
Coardos, 2017). This is so because of the following reasons-
Patient safety- In the hospitals the primary focus is on patient safety. Therefore in the
hospitals the focus is put on communicating in the right manner so that important data related to
the patient can be shared and thus the safety of the patient can be ensured.
Interhospital vs. Intrahospital Communications- In the hospitals the different departments
are required to cooperate and coordinate with each other to make sure that the patient is given the
right treatment. Therefore, it is quite important for the management in the hospitals to ensure that
the communication is done properly. Also Intrahospital communications are needed because the
management of different hospitals may need to communicate with each other for the purpose of
taking advice for the course of treatment to be followed.
Inter-department connectivity- There are different departments within a hospital
(Burgener, 2020). Thus there is a requirement for these departments to be able to connect with
each other by making the use of appropriate communication methods. In this way the hospitals
will be able to ensure that the problems of the patients can be given immediate attention and they
are provided the best healthcare facilities.
Better care of the different patients- In the hospitals, there are different types of patients
who are facing various types of health problems. Thus by making the use of effective
communication methods, the hospitals can make sure that better care of the various patients can
1

be taken. This will allow them to be able to ensure that the patients get the best healthcare
facilities.
Better cooperation- Good communication in the hospitals can lead towards better
cooperation in an effective manner. Thus, in this way this will ensure that the patients face no
problems in receiving the best healthcare. Thus this makes communicating in the right manner in
the hospitals very important so as to provide the best facilities to the patients.
Better coordination- Good communication in the hospitals can lead towards better
coordination (Cornett and Kuziemsky, 2018). Therefore, in this manner the patients are able to
get the best healthcare facilities. Thus this increases the importance of communication in the
hospitals so that the problems and issues faced by the patients can be handled in the right
manner.
Solving of problems of the patients- Through displaying the right communication skills
the various types of problems which are faced by the patients can be resolved effectively. Thus,
it is quite important for the management of the hospitals to display effective communication
skills to ensure that the problems of the patients can be resolved by giving them the necessary
attention.
Features of effective communication
There are various types of features of effective communication. These features are
explained as follows-
Completeness- The communication which is being done must be complete (Fox and
Aranko, 2017). Therefore it is quite important in hospitals that the communication is complete in
nature. This will ensure that the information which is being transmitted is complete and thus the
patients are treated properly.
Conciseness- It means keeping the message to the point. Thus, In the context of hospitals
it is crucial that the message which is transmitted is to the point which will be quite helpful in
ensuring that the patients are treated well.
Consideration- It refers to taking the views of the receiver of the message. In hospitals, it
is very important that these views are taken into consideration which will be quite helpful for the
hospitals in treating their patients in a better manner without problems and issues.
2

Concreteness- A message has to be concrete in nature. Therefore in the hospitals, it has to
be ensured that the messages which are being communicated must be concrete in nature. Thus in
this way the message will be transmitted in the right manner.
Courtesy- The message which is being transmitted should have courtesy and compliment
in them. Thus, In the context of the hospitals it is crucial that the message which is transmitted
should have courtesy and compliment so that the patients are given proper attention.
Clearness- There must be clarity in the message which is being transmitted. Therefore, In
the hospitals it is a requirement that the message which is being transmitted is clear so that the
problems and issues which are being faced by the patients can be resolved effectively.
Correctness- The message which is being transmitted must be correct in nature (Kannan,
Ramakrishnan and Ojo, 2019). Wrong messages should not be transmitted as they can create
confusion. Thus, In the hospitals it is quite essential that the correct messages are transmitted
without creating confusion so that the patients are attended in the right manner.
In the hospitals there must be immediate attention towards the patients and the problems
and issues which they are facing. Therefore, it is highly important from the point of view of the
hospitals that they are able to use all of these features of communication by implementing them
in their various communication practices. Thus, In this manner the hospitals will be able to
ensure that they are able to attend their different patients in the correct manner. Thus, it can be
said that it is crucial to ensure the implementation of all of these principles in the hospitals
because of their importance.
Barriers of communication
There are different barriers of communication. These are explained as follows-
Disengagement- For effective communication, it is important that there is a focus and
concentration put by the parties in the process of communication. Therefore, In the hospitals this
barrier can be faced when communication is held because there may not be full focus and
concentration put in by both the parties.
Lack of focus and attention- Effective communication requires making the use of focus
and attention. In the hospitals, this barrier can be faced because some of the people working there
may not give full focus and attention towards the message being communicated.
Differences in perception and understanding- A barrier towards communication can be
created due to differences in the perception and understanding. In the hospitals, this can happen
3

due to lack of the ability of some of the staff members to properly understand the message which
is being communicated.
Language barrier- A barrier towards communication can be faced due to the reasons
related to language (Mamlin and Tierney, 2016). In the hospitals, this barrier may be created
because some of the staff members may not understand the message communicated due to the
language-related issues.
Technical Jargon- The use of different types of technical terms can act as a barrier
towards the process of effective communication. In the hospitals, this barrier may be created due
to the reason that some of the staff members may not be able to understand the technical terms in
the message.
Communication theory
There are different types of theories which are available in communication. Some of
these theories are discussed as follows-
Behaviourist- This theory recognizes the need of good behaviour as a part of
communication process in the organizations. Thus in Health & Social Care organizations the use
of this theory is quite crucial because by making its use these organizations are able to ensure
that a better behaviour can be ensured within them thereby helping in the attainment of goals and
objectives.
Advantages- The use of this approach makes sure that the research can be carried out
quite credibly without any problems and issues in the communication. Also it ensures that a lot
of practical applications can be done to shape behaviour.
Disadvantages- Mental processes which are used in learning are ignored under it. Also
the use of animals as opposed to human beings is criticized under it.
Cognitive- This theory holds that the knowledge displayed by an individual is related
with the observations carried out on others. Thus in the context of Health and Social care it can
be very important for bringing an improvement in behaviour.
Strengths- It has different types of practical applications which can be applied on other
people easily. Also experiments can be carried out under this method effectively and efficiently.
Weaknesses- No direct observation can be carried out on others under this approach.
Also it ignores the other factors.
4

Humanistic- This theory is used in order to look at a person and display the type of
communication in the right manner. In Health and Social Care organizations this is an important
approach to determine the type of behaviour which is required.
Strengths- It ensures that the behaviour can be changed according to the different types
of human beings. Also a person is viewed as an active agent under it.
Weaknesses- Emphasis is put on it under subjective experience which therefore creates
weaknesses. Also it puts more emphasis on conscious awareness.
Psychodynamic- This theory is quite useful as it identifies the psychological approaches
related to human beings effectively and efficiently. In the context of Health and Social Care
organizations this is important because it identifies the way behaviour is done in these
organizations.
Strengths- It understands the psychology of the different people. Also it identifies the
way behaviour can be moulded in the organizations.
Weaknesses- It has different types of assumptions which can be wrong. Also it identifies
the behaviour of people as pre-determined which may not always be the case.
Shannon and Weaver's model of communication is quite effective in ensuring that the
communication is done properly in the organization. In this model there is a presence of the
following essentials-
Sender- A Sender is a person who sends the message for the purpose of communication
(McElroy and Esterhuizen, 2017). Therefore it is important in the process of communication at
hospitals that the sender must transmit the right message.
Encoder- An Encoder refers to a transmitter which is used for the purpose of converting
the message into signals. In the hospitals, its presence is important so that the message is
transmitted in the right manner.
Decoder- It is the reception place of the signal where the message can be converted
effectively. In the hospitals, its presence is important for ensuring that the message is decoded
correctly.
Receiver- A Receiver is the person who receives the message which is being
communicated. Thus, In the hospitals it is important that the receiver is able to properly receive
as well as interpret the message.
5

Thus the use of this communication theory is recommended in the hospitals because in
this way they will be able to properly attend the patients.
6

CONCLUSION
From the above essay, it can be concluded that communication is crucial to ensure that
the message is delivered to the right person. It is important in the hospitals because of the various
needs and requirements. Effective communication has different types of features.
Communication can face different types of barriers. The use of theory of communication can be
made so that the communication is done in the right manner.
7

REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Ab Aziz, N. F., Akashah, F. W. and Aziz, A. A., 2019. Conceptual framework for risk
communication between emergency response team and management team at healthcare
facilities: A Malaysian perspective. International Journal of Disaster Risk
Reduction. 41. p.101282.
Alexandru, A., Ianculescu, M. and Coardos, D., 2017, November. Improved patient engagement
in self-management of health, a key to sustainable preventative healthcare systems.
In International Conference on Wireless Mobile Communication and Healthcare (pp.
129-137). Springer, Cham.
Burgener, A. M., 2020. Enhancing communication to improve patient safety and to increase
patient satisfaction. The health care manager. 39(3). pp.128-132.\
Cornett, J. A. and Kuziemsky, C., 2018. Team based communication and the healthcare
communication space. Journal of health organization and management.
Fox, S. and Aranko, O., 2017. Healthcare framing: Critical realist framing for causal
interdependencies and uncertainties within healthcare. Technology in Society. 50. pp.66-
72.
Kannan, R., Ramakrishnan, K. and Ojo, A. O., 2019, January. Social networking sites as
communication tool for dengue related healthcare and wellness information.
In Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Software Engineering and
Information Management (pp. 204-207).
Mamlin, B. W. and Tierney, W. M., 2016. The promise of information and communication
technology in healthcare: extracting value from the chaos. The American journal of the
medical sciences. 351(1). pp.59-68.
McElroy, C. and Esterhuizen, P., 2017. Compassionate communication in acute healthcare:
establishing the face and content validity of a questionnaire. Journal of Research in
Nursing. 22(1-2). pp.72-88.
8