Effective Communication Strategies in Health and Social Care

This report delves into the application of communication theories within the health and social care sector, highlighting the significance of effective interaction between healthcare providers and patients. It examines behavioral, cognitive, and humanistic theories, illustrating how each influences communication dynamics. The report analyzes a case scenario involving a patient's unsatisfactory hospital experience due to miscommunication and proposes strategies for addressing inappropriate interpersonal communication, such as sign language training and relaxation activities to enhance understanding and compatibility among staff. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of diverse interaction, patience, and empathy when dealing with patients of varying needs, including the elderly and those with mental disabilities. The analysis extends to the utilization of technology and innovative approaches to improve service quality, enhance treatment facilities, and foster better communication between healthcare professionals and service users, ultimately ensuring improved patient care and satisfaction. The report concludes by referencing relevant academic sources, supporting its findings and recommendations.

Communication in
Health and Social care

Theories of communication in health
and social care
• Communication theory can be defined as process of
transferring information among people, machines, etc.
• As per given case scenario, Anna, a 35- year old woman was
not feeling well.
• She was taken to the hospital by her husband where authorities
of the hospital did not ask for any past medical history and no
nurse was available to take care for her.
• The couple was not satisfied due to improper interaction and
their behaviour. There are several types of theories that can be
used in context of health and social care.

Behavioural Theory
• According to this theory, learning can be achieved by watching and
experiencing alteration in behaviour.
• It is an outcome of learning. In the sector of health and social care,
staff members deals with variety of people who has varying needs.
• Improper Communication can result into misleading information
and would have impact on treatment procedure of the patients and
relation between patients and employees.
• Behavioural theory states that every individual has different needs,
feelings and thinking which affects connection as well as interaction
and behavioural prospects.

Cognitive Theory
• Cognitive: Every individual has
different thinking process which is
affected by internal and external
factors in learning processes.
• It involves observation of things in the
surrounding areas, categorizing them
on the basis of their types and
behaviour, etc.
• Goals and objectives are set by the
learners themselves for motivation.

Humanistic Theory
• Humanistic : Learning is a function of the
whole person.
• It can not take place in the absence of
affective domains and cognitive.
• The most important aspect of this theory is
individual's capabilities for self
determination.

Review on dealing with inappropriate
interpersonal communication
• To deal with inappropriate interpersonal communication first basic
thing is to identify major cause of the issue.
• In the given scenario, Paul did not find Hospital authorities
beneficial in treatment of her wife Anna.
• As there was no diagnosis done by the doctor, no medical
prescription was made and doctor was focused asking one question
of consumption of alcohol.
• Improper communication lead Paul unsatisfied and had to take her
wife to other hospital.
• This issue of interaction could be solved by identification of the
root cause.

Continued..
• Staff member should also teach sign
languages that could be used to understand
condition of patients by gestures when
they are not able to speak.
• It could help in increasing knowledge
level.
• Some sort of relaxation activities could
also be arranged so that people come on
common platform and able to understand
each other in better way which could
improve their working compatibility

Use of communication skills within health
and social care sector
• Every individual has certain requirements and needs which could
only be understood with the help of effective communication.
• It could be either verbal or non-verbal form. It involves proper
listening skills, describing your point or issues to others, talking
calmly.
• Gestures and sign language understanding is also included into the
procedure.
• Diverse interaction is required by many users in order to have
satisfying treatment.

Continued..
• Old aged people are more irritated
and face mood swings more often.
• Thus, medical staff should keep
patience while dealing such patients
and should give regard and sympathy.
• If a person is suffering from mental
disabilities then they require more
understanding of gestures and there
should not be any discrimination
among such people and are required to
be treated equally.

Analysis of usage of strategies to support users of health
and social care services
• Several strategies are available that can
be used in service quality improvement.
• Advancement of technology has brought
several machineries for better treatment
facilities.
• With the time hospitals and health care
homes should implement new
technologies to enhance treatment
levels.
• Improved services can be made
available to the customers.

Continued..
• Technology can also be utilized in improving communication skills.
• It can be incorporated with conventional methods. Patients who are
suffering from severe health issues, the strategy of innovation would
be effective in this scenario.
• Innovative machineries can be brought and well designed
equipments can also be placed in treatment procedures.
• It helps in establishing interaction among health carer and service
user.
• Security is one of the major concerned in the health care homes.

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.
Arnold, E. C. and Boggs, K. U., 2015. Interpersonal relationships:
Professional communication skills for nurses. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Aveyard, H. and Sharp, P., 2013. A Beginner's Guide to Evidence-
based Practice in Health and Social Care. McGraw-Hill Education
(UK).
Best, P., Manktelow, R. and Taylor, B., 2014. Online communication,
social media and adolescent wellbeing: A systematic narrative review.
Children and Youth Services Review. 41. pp.27-36.

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