Analyzing Communication in Healthcare: A Case Study Approach

This essay delves into the critical aspects of communication within the healthcare environment, focusing on a case study of Mr. Tanaka, a patient in a rehabilitation center. The analysis begins with strategies to build rapport with patients, emphasizing friendliness, expressing genuine interest, and establishing common ground. It then explores effective communication strategies such as active listening and non-verbal cues, alongside an examination of communication barriers like language, psychological state, and physical limitations, and strategies to overcome them. Ethical considerations, including patient autonomy, are discussed, highlighting the importance of adhering to ethical principles. The essay also addresses inter-professional communication, acknowledging challenges like jargon and hierarchy issues while underscoring the need for effective communication among healthcare teams. The conclusion stresses the importance of communication skills for healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes, manage ethical dilemmas, and foster collaborative care.

Running head: COMMUNICATION 1
Communication for Health Professionals
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Introduction
Communication is the exchange of information among different people. It is a skill that is
vital to effective healthcare delivery, healthcare professionals should therefore ensure that they
are equipped with effective communication skills (O'Toole, 2016). In the case study, Mr. Tanaka
a widow underwent surgery on a broken hip and he is in contact with a rehabilitation centre. He
has recently moved in with his son and the son’s family thus feels guilty that he is overburdening
them. Mr. Tanaka also reports of poor social connections and he is worried of future miseries
that will be caused by the broken hip. A social worker is concerned of feelings of guilt and
anxious and has been referred due to mental health, home environment and physical health. It is
therefore important the health professionals collaborate or communicate to ensure Mr. Tanaka
recover promptly. Within the framework of this assignment, there will be an analysis of the
strategies to build rapport with Mr. Tanaka, effective communicative strategies and how to
implement them, barriers and to communication and how to overcome them, ethical
consideration of communication, and inter professional communication. Finally, there will be a
conclusion to summarise important points in the essay.
Discussion
Strategies to build rapport
A good rapport is necessary for better health outcomes. Studies have proposed different
strategies that can be used to build a good rapport with the patient. For the case of Mr. Tanaka, I
will begin by being very friendly to him. I will approach and greet him in a warm and friendly
way (O'Toole, 2016). Furthermore, I would also smile at him just to ensure that both of us are
happy before we begin. Another strategy that I can use to build rapport with Tanaka is

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expressing real interest. I can achieve this by listening keenly and using non-verbal
communication skills like gestures and facial expressions just to ensure that the patient is
hooked. Establishing a common ground is also a good strategy since studies note that people
with the same interests tend to get attracted to each other. I would therefore seek to understand
whatever the patient likes and I would complement the same so that we are on the same ground.
Communication strategies and implementation
In order to make communication effective, it is necessary to incorporate or use different
strategies. One of the strategies is good listening skills. Several studies indicate that active
listening is likely to improve communication (Price, 2017). I will therefore implement this
strategy by listening carefully to whatever Mr. Tanaka speaks. This also includes no interfering
while the patient is speaking. Besides active listening, I would also use non-verbal
communication skills (O'Toole, 2016). I would for example implement gestures when
demonstrating something. I would also implement facial expressions when speaking or
expressing feelings so as to ensure that the patient is hooked. The rationale of implementing
communication strategies is just to ensure that the process of assessment and counselling is
successful.
Communication barriers and strategies
Often, there arises different factors that might make it difficult to exchange information.
This factors are collectively known as barriers to communication. They are broadly classified
into language barriers, psychological barriers, physiological barriers, physical barriers and
attitudinal barriers (Thomson, Outram, Gilligan, & Levett-Jones, 2015). While trying to
communicate with Mr. Tanaka, such barriers might arise and I am expected to come up or utilise

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strategies to overcome them. Language barriers refers to language and linguistic. In this case
study, if Mr. Tanaka doesn’t understand English language, then communication might difficult.
In order to overcome language barriers, I might be forced to use a translator. Psychological
barriers on the other hand refers to the psychological status of the patient. In this case study, Mr.
Tanaka is feels guilty. He feels that is a burden to care givers and this is likely to distract him
from communication. The best way to overcome such psychological barriers to be cheerful and
engage the patient so that he becomes free. Physical barriers such as long distance or noise might
hinder effective communication (West, 2012). I can therefore ensure that I am very close to the
patient so that he can hear me well. Physiological barriers such as pain after surgery might also
hinder communication. Communication between patient and care givers is necessary in order to
achieve optimal health, all care givers including social workers should therefore understand the
barriers to communication and strategies that can be used to bridge the same.
Ethical considerations
Ethics are the moral principles that govern the behaviour of an individual or operation.
There are different ethical considerations that arise in the case study involving Mr. Tanaka. One
of the ethical consideration is patient autonomy (O'Toole, 2016). Autonomy is from Latin
meaning self-rule. This implies that it is imperative or necessary to respect the decisions made by
other people. Furthermore, this principle is often referred to as the principle of human dignity
and it ensures that healthcare workers do not by any chance interfere with an adult’s decision.
Contrary, the principle advocates for empowering. In this particular case study, Mr. Tanaka is
reluctant to accept counselling. As a healthcare professional, the social worker is supposed to
respect that decision but instead, the social worker goes ahead and convinces the patient
otherwise. This is contrary to the principle of autonomy. Ethical principles govern routine

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practice of healthcare professionals and has been associated with positive outcomes while a
breach in the same has led to legal suites. It is therefore imperative that healthcare workers stick
to the ethical principles to improve patient outcomes and avoid legal entanglements.
Inter-professional communication
In order to ensure that Mr. Tanaka recuperates well, it is necessary for multidisciplinary
teams to communicate on how well to cater for the patient. In this case, the three relevant inter
professionals include a doctor who monitors progress after surgery while a social worker offer
social support to him. The nurse on the other hand ensures that the patient adheres to the
prescribed drugs (Magyar-Moe, Owens, & Scheel, 2015). However, inter professional
communication or collaboration is usually not that smooth. There are different obstacles or
challenges with associated with inter professional communication. Language or jargon is such a
challenge. Different professionals use different languages. The language used by nurses or
laboratory officers is different form the language used by social workers and physiotherapists.
This therefore makes it hard for them to communicate (Johnson, 2016). Another challenge is
hostility. Some professionals might be hostile to one another due to different reasons and this
also hinders communication. Hierarchy issues are also common challenges in inter professional
communication whereby some professionals feel superior and should not communicate with
others. This generally affects sharing information while providing care to Mr. Tanaka.
Conclusion
Communication among healthcare professionals improves healthcare delivery. Effective
communication can only be achieved by building rapport with the patient using different
strategies as well as incorporating good communication skills and overcoming barriers to

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effective communication like language. With inter professional communication however, there
arises ethical issues such as autonomy and respect which might lead to legal suites. Even though
there exists different challenges and ethical considerations in inter professional communication
such as jargon, hostility and hierarchy issues, it is necessary that all the healthcare professionals
are well versed with effective communication skills so as to bolster the quality of care provided
to patients.

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References
Johnson, T. A. (2016). Futility and Beneficence. When Professionals Weep, 161-174.
doi:10.4324/9781315716022-17
Magyar-Moe, J. L., Owens, R. L., & Scheel, M. J. (2015). Applications of Positive
Psychology in Counseling Psychology. The Counseling Psychologist, 43(4), 494-507.
doi:10.1177/0011000015581001
O'Toole, G. (2016). Communication: Core Interpersonal Skills for Health Professionals
(3rd ed.). Elsevier.
Price, B. (2017). Developing patient rapport, trust and therapeutic relationships. Nursing
Standard, 31(50), 52-63. doi:10.7748/ns.2017.e10909
Thomson, K., Outram, S., Gilligan, C., & Levett-Jones, T. (2015). Interprofessional
experiences of recent healthcare graduates: A social psychology perspective on the
barriers to effective communication, teamwork, and patient-centred care. Journal of
Interprofessional Care, 29(6), 634-640. doi:10.3109/13561820.2015.1040873
West, W. (2012). Counselling. Oxford Textbook of Spirituality in Healthcare, 279-284.
doi:10.1093/med/9780199571390.003.0039