NURS 6412 week 6 Discussion Paper
Methods of Communication
Communication plays a crucial role in health and social care. Effective communication allows improving interpersonal relationships. This fact means that health and care service workers need to develop the proper communication skills to effectively communicate with service users.NURS 6412 week 6 Discussion Paper According to researchers, “people who use health, social care and early years services, are often dependent on care workers for obtaining and giving information” (Fisher, 2005, p. 53). As technology continues to provide benefits to various fields of human activity, the health and social care field is no exception. Today health and social care professionals effectively utilize these benefits, which provide considerable improvements in health and social care applications. A wide range of information and communication technologies (ICT) are used to enhance health and social care services (Martinho et al., 2013). Stephen A. Webb states that “new ICTs will come to have a decisive role in the complex field of transformations that are taking place in the caring professions” (p. 223). Generally speaking, the role of communication in health and social care is really important as it involves the application of the proper communication skills, deals with various factors that influence the effectiveness of communication process and reflects the use of information and communication technology in health and social care settings to meet the need of clients.
The major goal of this paper is to discuss the role of communication in health and social care. Special attention should be paid to the use of communication skills in health and social care; the impact of various factors on the communication process in health and social care; and the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in health and social care.The use of communication skills in health and social care
To explore the use of communication skills in health and social care, it is necessary to define the term health communication which forms the basis for developing meaningful communication skills. According to researchers, the term “health communication” can be defined as “the art and technique of informing, influencing and motivating individual, institutional and public audiences about important health issues” (Parrott, 2004, p. 751). Communication in health and social care settings contributes to vital health outcomes, promoting positive health behavior and enhancing physical and mental well-being of clients.NURS 6412 week 6 Discussion Paper
Application of the relevant theories of communication to health and social care settings
There are several theories of communication that can be applied to health and social care settings. Abraham Maslow’s theory (the theory of hierarchy of needs) is based on the idea that human life can be evaluated in terms of one’s individual development and potential. Maslow states that all individuals have some levels of need that should be met in the course of one’s life (Fisher, 2005; Clarke et al., 2000). The process of communication reflects one’s needs because while communicating, social, intellectual, emotional and physical needs are met. Social needs met in the process of communication involve social interaction. Intellectual needs are met because communication requires certain thinking processes, as well as the use of intellectual abilities to develop the theme of communication (Fisher, 2005). Emotional needs are met in the process of communication because individuals experience satisfaction while communicating with others, which gives them the sense of achievement (Fisher, 2005). Emotions influence the outcomes of communication process, as well as one’s feelings. According to Angela Fisher (2005), “our emotions can be influenced in a good way or in a negative way”(p. 60). Negative emotions lead to low self-esteem. Physical needs are met because individuals involved in communication may use their physical abilities (Clarke et al., 2000). Actually, poor communication in health and social care could result in the failure of clients to meet the required social, intellectual, emotional and physical needs (Fisher, 2005).Besides, Thompson’s theory of systematic practice can be applied to communication in health and social care settings. Thompson suggests that “vague care work can result in poor quality care and also in stress for a care worker” (Moonie, 2005, p. 93). There are many benefits of using systematic practice, including enhanced professional credibility, the ability to deal with workloads and reduce stress level, as well as enhanced ability to negotiate. These benefits contribute to effective communication practices (Moonie, 2005).
In addition, Kolb’s learning cycle theory can help to better understand the role of communication in health and social care settings. Kolb states that learning cycle that consists of four stages helps to improve communication. Care workers may use Kolb’s cycle to better understand and interpret the needs of clients (Moonie, 2005).
- Stage one: concrete experience;
- Stage two: reflective observation;
- Stage three: abstract conceptualization;
- Stage four: active experimentation (Moonie, 2005).NURS 6412 week 6 Discussion Paper
The use of communication skills in health and social care settings
In health and social care settings, special attention should be paid to the development and use of effective communication skills. Professional care workers should be aware of the importance of using the proper skills when communicating with their clients. Angela Fisher (2005) states that “the work that is done in care settings depends very much on using effective communication,” which requires care workers to be able to make a comprehensive analysis of one’s thoughts and ideas, skillfully use specially developed techniques to interpret the language and non-verbal behavior of their clients, have the ability to draw conclusions and make decisions, as well as to use the proper ideas to continue conversation (p. 55). Poor communication can lead to a loss of self-esteem, as well as to insensitivity to other people, resulting in discrimination (Parrott, 2004). Effective communication skills used in health and social care settings should be based on emotional and social needs of clients (Clarke, et al., 2000). Care workers’ communication skills should provide a comprehensive action plan for enhancing one-to-one communication (Fisher, 2005). In general, effective communication depends on the use of the meaningful communication skills and social coordination, which include the following requirements:
- Care workers should demonstrate an interest in communication process;
- Care workers should be interesting;
- Care workers should be well-trained to start a conversation, keep it and to end a conversation (Fisher, 2005)
Some methods of dealing with inappropriate interpersonal communication between individuals in health and social care settings
To deal with inappropriate interpersonal communication between individuals in health and social care settings, it is necessary to use the proper methods. One of the methods that can promote effective communication in health and social care services is to maintain confidentiality of information. Liam Clarke and colleagues (2000) state if a health and social care worker is “careless with information about clients, the trust upon which the care relationship is built will be lost”(p. 73). Besides, it is necessary to measure the effectiveness of interpersonal communication through listening (Parrott, 2004). This monitoring can be done by means of the following methods:
- verbal feedback obtained from the client with whom care worker is communicating;
- written feedback obtained from some observer (Clarke et al., 2000);
- video observation, which helps to observe a care worker’s behavior in the process of communication;
- “self-reflection” on client’s interviews or feedback (Clarke et al., 2000, p. 71).
In general, observation of communication process depends on the reflection of one’s own skills and abilities, and helps to improve care workers’ sensitivity to the interpersonal communication. Liam Clarke and colleagues (2000) state that a care worker should assume “a primary professional responsibility for the success of the interaction”(p. 71). It is very important for the care worker to address any misunderstandings regarding the client’s communication (Dickson et al., 1996).NURS 6412 week 6 Discussion Paper
Analysis of the use of strategies to support users of health and social care services with specific communication needs in health and social settingsVarious strategies can be used to support the users of health and social care services with specific communication needs in health and social settings. It has been found that individuals with learning disabilities and individuals with sensory disabilities have specific communication needs (Barrett et al., 2004; Moonie, 2005). Care workers should be ready to meet these needs. To support users of health and social care services with specific communication needs, it would be better to develop a plan of action (Moonie, 2005). Care workers’ actions should facilitate the process of communication, giving clients an opportunity to express themselves. Care workers should ask the right questions, adapting their listening and communication styles to suit the needs of their clients (Moonie, 2005). Care workers should learn and use the strategies of observing and interpreting the non-verbal signals given by an individual with specific communication needs (Parrott, 2004). To manage a successful communication process, care workers should structure their talk, linking it to certain goals and objectives. It is possible to use audiovisual material, aides’ memories, visual aids and supplementary material (Moonie, 2005, p. 86). Active listening is one of the most important strategies to meet the needs of health and social care users.NURS 6412 week 6 Discussion Paper