Communication Strategies in Health and Social Care: A Detailed Report

This report delves into the critical role of communication within the health and social care sector, focusing on a case study involving a 35-year-old woman named Anna. It explores four key communication theories: psychodynamic, behaviorist, humanistic, and cognitive, highlighting their application in meeting the needs of service users. The report examines various instances of inappropriate interpersonal communication and proposes effective strategies for resolution, emphasizing the importance of thorough patient assessment and clear communication from healthcare professionals. It outlines essential communication skills, including verbal, non-verbal, writing, and listening, and discusses how these skills can be utilized to address problematic situations. Furthermore, the report analyzes strategies for improving practice, focusing on meeting the specific communication needs of individuals with disabilities and emphasizes the adoption of tailored communication styles and the use of visual aids to enhance the communication process. The conclusion stresses the necessity of effective communication for healthcare providers to fulfill their responsibilities and deliver appropriate care.

Communication in
Health and Social Care
TASK 1

INTRODUCTION
In the life of people, language in particular and communication in general plays a
significant role without which nothing can be done. In every profession, for everything a
person does, communication is necessary and so, as in health and social care (HSC)
sector. In between the communicating parties, to foster greater understanding and
possibility of establishing better relationships, effective communication is highly
required. Here, with respect to the given case of Anna who is a 35 years old lady,
concepts related to communication in health and social care will be discussed in detail.

1.1 Applying different relevant theories of communication required to meet
the needs of service users and describing their different needs
There are basically four theories of communication that can be applied
for meeting the needs of Anna which are:
• Psychodynamic
• Behaviorist
• Humanistic
• Cognitive

Cont.…
• Psychodynamic – In this theory, people who are associated to "psyche" are combined in which other than
the mind, all entire inner feelings, thoughts and experiences along with the dynamics are included which
specifies that psyche is not stable but, it is active.
• Behaviorist – This theory completely emphasizes on the notion that behavior possessed by an individual
depends on learnt responses about specific stimuli.
• Humanistic - Under this theory, individuals rejects the significance of behavior and gets highlighted for
his interest and the unconscious impulses that he is having because of the past.
• Cognitive – As per this theory, with the help of observational learning, individuals gain more information.

1.3 Reviewing the way of dealing with any inappropriate interpersonal
communication
Several ways are there by which inappropriate interpersonal communication
took place with Anna and her husband can be dealt with. As per the given case of
Anna where she was diagnosed with a stroke after going to other hospital, prior to
that, doctor of hospital where she went first said that she was having no issues and
the reason of her numbness is just that she is drunk which was not so. Therefore, it is
important for health and social care workers to have ability to deal with inappropriate
communication practices so that users would have any inconvenience.

Cont.…
To Anna, no medical history was taken as well as no medicine was prescribed. The doctor
discharged Anna and pushed a cardboard bowl into her husband’s hand in case his wife was sick.
Some of the ways of dealing with inappropriate interpersonal communication practices made
with Anna and her husband are:
• It is important for doctor to first check the condition of patient thoroughly and then make any
justification.
• Other staff present in the hospital is also liable to communicate in a proper way at the time when
patient is having any issue or query.
• It has been assessed that health and social care entities make misinterpretation in the documents that
should not be there.
• Without prescription, doctors should not treat the patient as this may lead patient to forget the actual
issues and its medicines that may lead them to face severe problems later.

1.2 Way in which communication skills are used to address any
inappropriate or problematic situation
In care home, it is the responsibility of staff to communicate with service users in an
effectual manner for which they need to have specific communication skills through which
inappropriate and problematic situation can be resolved. These ways are like:
• Verbal
• Non-verbal
• Writing
• Listening

Cont.…
• Verbal communication can be done in health and social care settings with
conducting trainings as well as on the telephones. Also, it can be done by having
face to face interaction with the client.
• However, under non-verbal communication, mainlyfacial expression, hand
gestures, physical appearance and body posture are used for the patients who
cannot speak, see or listen.
• Under writing, doctors or HSC staff can first write the information which they
want to convey to the patient and then can shown them.
• On the other hand, as per listening skill, staff of HSC settings must have ability to
listen the issues of patient properly so as to understand his/her actual issues.

1.4 Analyzing the use of strategies for improving practice to support users
of health and social care services
• It has been seen that people with having any kind of disabilities have some
specific communication needs which HSC settings are required to fulfil.
• It is the responsibility of health and social care staff to meet these specific
communication needs of users in an effective manner.
• For the same, firms can develop a plan of action.
• Care workers should facilitate the process of communication so that clients
would feel free to share their issues and express themselves.
• Under this process, care workers should ask the right questions from patient
and not any such thing should be asked that may make him/her feel bad.

Cont.…
• Also, listening and communication styles that effectually suit with the needs of
service users or clients should be adopted by the care workers.
• Apart from that, using the strategies of observing and interpreting non-verbal
signals can also be used by the care workers that are given by the service users
to them.
• Further, by structuring the talk and linking the same with certain objectives of
patients, care workers can successfully manage the communication process.
• Moreover, by making use of audiovisual material, aides’ memories, visual aids
and supplementary material also, specific communication needs of service users
can be met.

CONCLUSION
It can be concluded here that to meet the specific needs of Anna related
to her health, staff of HSC setting was required to have specific communication
skills by which they could have treated her effectually. Through having effective
communication, her issue could have resolved as well as she might not be
required to go to another hospital. Therefore, it can be said that without having
effective communication, health and social care settings cannot perform their
duties and responsibilities in a way they should do the same.

REFERENCES
• Moss, B., 2012. Communication skills in health and social care. 2nd ed. ISBN.
• Nothhaft, H., 2010. Communication management as a second-order management function: Roles
and functions of the communication executive – results from a shadowing study. Journal of
Communication Management. 14(2). pp.127–140.
• Reeves, S. and et.al., 2011. Interprofessional teamwork for health and social care. John Wiley &
Sons.
• Srinivasan, D., 2013. Impact of Healthcare Informatics on Quality of Patient Care and Health
Services. CRC Press.
• Defining Communication Theories. 2013. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.mhhe.com/mayfieldpub/westturner/student_resources/theories.htm//>. [Accessed
on 7th April 2017].

Thank You!!