Communication Strategies in Healthcare: A Comprehensive Report

This report examines communication strategies in health and social care, focusing on the humanistic theory to build strong patient-professional relationships. It addresses language appropriateness for service users and professionals, emphasizing clear and concise communication. The report identifies barriers to effective communication, such as language, culture, and health literacy, and proposes solutions, including interpreters and cultural sensitivity training. It highlights the importance of confidentiality and privacy, crucial for building trust with patients. Finally, it suggests strategies for supporting individuals with specific communication needs, such as those with hearing or visual impairments, and references relevant literature to support its claims.

Communication
IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Communication theories: in
health and social care
 To deal with the situation, where patient is not being able to trust the
healthcare process, two communication theories should be assessed
and used in the healthcare facility while connecting with patient.
 Using this communication processes, the relationship between the
patients and healthcare professionals improves and this bonding help
the patients to improve their health condition in a steady pace.
 The first theory that this presentation will discuss is the humanistic
theory, using which a strong humanly bond is created between
healthcare professionals and patients that helps the professionals to
understand the care related needs of the patients and act upon them
accordingly (Burks and Kobus 2012).

Communication theories: in
health and social care
 To deal with the situation, where patient is not being able to trust the
healthcare process, two theories of communication should be assessed
and implemented while communicating with the patient.
 Using this communication processes, the relationship between the
patients and healthcare professionals improves and this bonding help
the patients to improve their health condition in a steady pace.
 The first theory that this presentation will discuss is the humanistic
theory, using which a strong humanly bond is created between
healthcare professionals and patients that helps the professionals to
understand the care related needs of the patients and act upon them
accordingly (Burks and Kobus 2012).

Language appropriate for
service users
 Service users are the most important stakeholder of the healthcare and
social care process as the entire process is directed for their health and
social improvement.
 While taking the service, they should also deliver their necessities
related to their concern in simple and concise manner so that service
providers can interpret their requirement properly (Antheunis, Tates and
Nieboer 2013).
 Further, it is the responsibility of the service users to develop healthy
relationship with their carer so that service providers ca understand
their needs and support them with interventions (Blais et al. 2015).

Language appropriate for
professionals
 While the service providers should make efforts to understand the patient
needs, it is important for the service users to deliver their needs and
requirements to the healthcare facility in simple and concise manner so that
their can take effective action for it. (Antheunis, Tates and Nieboer 2013).
 Appropriate language used for communication can strengthen the team work
and enhance their capacity to a large extent.
 Using these methods and strategies it will be easier for the healthcare
professionals to use their healthcare interventions on the patients so that
their condition can be improved (Moorhead et al. 2013).

Barriers to effective
communication
 There are several barriers that can decrease the effectiveness of healthcare
and slows the improvement of the patient mentioned in the case study.
 These are:
 Language barriers
 Cultural blocks
 Health and social literacy related barriers
 Lack of attention
 Physical disability
 Differences in the views or observations

Three methods to overcome
communication barriers
 The barrier that will be overcome in this scenario is the barrier of
perception, for that an interpreter will be employed so that if the
patient has language barrier then the professionals message will be
conveyed to her properly (Moorhead et al. 2013).
 The second barrier will be the cultural barrier and for that the
healthcare professional will be asked to understand and gather
language of the patients culture, religion and beliefs so that while
caring, these can be maintained.
 The third issue will be related to the health literacy related barriers and
for that the patient will be informed about her health complications and
will be educated about the interventions (Blais et al. 2015).

Confidentiality/privacy/
protection
 It is an important aspect as maintaining confidentiality and privacy is
the responsibility of the healthcare professional and right of the service
users.
 In the process of health and social care, patient might share some
informations, that should not be provided to other healthcare
professionals and hence, the professionals should maintain that.
 Using this, they will be able to create a relationship of trust with the
patient which will help the professional to apply the intervention
properly (Arnold and Boggs 2015).

3 strategies to support
individuals with specific
communication needs
 As mentioned in the case study, the patient is suffering from hearing
disability, hence, sign language or interpreter will be used as a special
strategic need.
 Secondly, if a patient has visual concern then implementation glasses
would be an appropriate intervention.
 Thirdly, for blind client, usage of brails can be an important step to
commence communication (Berks and Kobus 2012).

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.
 Blais, K., Hayes, J.S., Kozier, B. and Erb, G.L., 2015. Professional nursing practice: Concepts and
perspectives (p. 530). NJ: Prentice Hall.
 Burks, D.J. and Kobus, A.M., 2012. The legacy of altruism in health care: the promotion of
empathy, prosociality and humanism. Medical Education, 46(3), pp.317-325.
 Kurtz, S., Draper, J. and Silverman, J., 2016. Teaching and learning communication skills in
medicine. CRC press.
 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