Improving Communication in Health and Social Care Settings

This essay explores communication theories relevant to health and social care, emphasizing the humanistic and cognitive theories. It discusses the importance of using appropriate language for both service users and professionals, highlighting how effective communication reinforces teamwork and builds trust with patients. The essay identifies various barriers to effective communication, including language, cultural differences, health literacy, and physical disabilities, and proposes strategies to overcome these barriers through active listening, cultural sensitivity, and the use of interpreters and communication aids. Furthermore, it addresses the significance of confidentiality, privacy, and protection of patient information in fostering trust and responsibility. The essay also provides specific strategies to support individuals with communication needs, such as employing sign language experts and utilizing augmented communication technologies, with relevant references to support the arguments.

Communication
In health and social care

Communication theories:
in health and social care
 There are two theories of communication that should be
assessed and implemented while communicating with the
patient in the above-mentioned condition.
 In not only improves the association with the patient, but also
enhances they bonding between peers and colleagues at the
facility.
 The humanistic theory, the first theory which builds a
connection between human relation and disciplines. This theory
lets the healthcare professions to listen to the requirements and
distresses of the patient, and apply an inspection tool which is
based on self disclosure, trust and feedback process (Moorhead
et al. 2013).

Communication theories:
in health and social care
 The second theory applied in this framework is the cognitive
theory of healthcare.
 This is important as it helps to recognize the negative thoughts
that affects the patients circumstance and making her
understand the healthcare process so that she can build a trust
on them.
 Further, after analyzing the negative thoughts, it helps to
counsel and monitor the patient so that those negative effects
can be eliminated from her thoughts (Antheunis, Tates and
Nieboer 2013)

Language appropriate for
service users
 While using service, users should also deliver their
requirements related to their concern in simple and concise
manner
 This would help the service providers to understand the patient
requirement easily.
 While communicating with healthcare social care professionals,
users should develop positive and healthy relationship with
their carers
 This would help the service providers to implement
interventions without any hesitation and the patient will be able
to improve their health

Language appropriate for
professionals
 service providers should use proper language skills while
communicating with their team, service users and the management
 This is because, suitable language used for communication can
reinforce the team work and improve their capability to a large
extent (Moorhead et al. 2013).
 Hence, whilst communicating with patients healthcare providers
should be using proper language so that their understanding,
apprehension and care can be felt by the patient and a relationship
of trust can build (Antheunis, Tates and Nieboer 2013).

Barriers to effective
communication
 Barriers are the aspects that hinders the effectiveness of the
communication and patient improvement also affected due to these
aspects
 These are:
 Language related barriers
 Culture related barriers
 Health and social literacy related barriers
 Lack of attention in the healthcare service provider
 Physical disability of the patient
 Differences in the views or perceptions of healthcare provider and the
patients (Weller, Boyd and Cumin 2014)

Three methods to
overcome communication
barriers
 The first strategy will be listening to the patient so that her needs and
concerns can be clearly understood by the professionals. Further, the
professional needs to understand the behavior, nature, culture and
religion of the patient to remove the cultural barrier of the
communication.
 The second barrier targeted will be the heath literacy related barrier
and for that the patient will be explained her health complication and
all he interventions she will go though so that while treatment she
can provide complete support to the experts.
 The third strategy will be targeting the language related barrier and
for that while communicating with the patient, use of body language,
firm and calm tone will be preferred so that a bonding with the
patient can be created (Weller, Boyd and Cumin 2014).

Confidentiality/privacy/
protection
 These three terms are also related to communication as while
communicating patient shares informations, and it is the
responsibility of the healthcare or social care professionals to
maintain privacy.
 This would help to create a bonding with trust and responsibility
and the patient will be able to support the professionals in their
interventions (Arnold and Boggs 2015)

3 strategies to support
individuals with specific
communication needs
 As the patient is suffering from hearing issues, to communicate with her an ASL or
sign language expert will be employed so that she can understand the messages
(Moorhead et al. 2013). Eaves and Leathers (2017) mentioned in the book that non
verbal communication is effective in communicating with patients having hearing
issues.
 Various technologies will also be implemented as augmented communication aids,
alternative communication aids. Shane et al. (2012) mentioned it in the research
articles.
 Thirdly in this scenario, one interpreter will also be employed so that through him
messages with correct node can be communicated to her (Arnold and Boggs 2015).
Budescu, Por and Broomell (2012) mentioned that interpreters can help in
understanding the issues related to the heath and social care while communicating
with care recievers.

References
 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.ch, 15(4).
 Arnold, E.C. and Boggs, K.U., 2015. Interpersonal Relationships-E-Book: Professional Communication
Skills for Nurses. Elsevier Health Sciences.
 Budescu, D.V., Por, H.H. and Broomell, S.B., 2012. Effective communication of uncertainty in the IPCC
reports. Climatic change, 113(2), pp.181-200.
 Eaves, M. and Leathers, D.G., 2017. Successful nonverbal communication: Principles and
applications. Routledge.
 Moorhead, S.A., Hazlett, D.E., Harrison, L., Carroll, J.K., Irwin, A. and Hoving, C., 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 resear
 Shane, H.C., Laubscher, E.H., Schlosser, R.W., Flynn, S., Sorce, J.F. and Abramson, J., 2012. Applying
technology to visually support language and communication in individuals with autism spectrum
disorders. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 42(6), pp.1228-1235.
 Weller, J., Boyd, M. and Cumin, D., 2014. Teams, tribes and patient safety: overcoming barriers to
effective teamwork in healthcare. Postgraduate medical journal, pp.postgradmedj-2012.