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In health and social care settings, communication plays a key role and is a core aspect of every working relationship. Effective communication is a skill that comes with numerous benefits; particularly, it helps you to provide high-quality, person-centered care.
Communication is not as simple as it seems. It’s not just about what we say but about understanding and ensuring that our needs are fulfilled and our wishes are addressed. Communication is a two-way process including one person expressing himself and being understood by another.
This article highlights the importance of effective communication in health and social care. It also guides you with the knowledge to overcome any barriers and communicate effectively.
So, let’s dig in.
Before knowing the details, let’s first know what is the definition of effective communication. Effective communication in healthcare refers to the exchange of information and instructions between health and social care workers and between patients and their families.
There are various ways of communication in a healthcare environment, such as:
Some patients need additional forms of communication, like Braille, sign language or Makaton. Thus, health and social organizations must support all communication types to treat and provide care to everyone.
Health and social care workers must develop good communication skills in addition to other skills. For instance, you wouldn’t be able to provide personalized care if you are unable to understand your patient’s needs. Likewise, you should be able to communicate well to support a person’s privacy and dignity.
Having effective communication helps you to ensure that you can perform your role effectively. In a healthcare environment, it’s necessary to find out the needs and wishes of service users, provide quality care, and make good relationships with colleagues, service users, and visitors.
Now, you might have understood the importance of effective communication in the healthcare setting. However, there are a range of barriers that may prevent you from having effective communication. These barriers include:
Communication becomes difficult if you and the service user speak different languages. In addition, having a strong accent or communicating in a dialect related to where you live also makes it hard for others to understand you.
Emotions and attitudes play a crucial role in communication. For instance, communicating with a service user in a rush due to your busy schedule makes them feel frustrated or unlikely to have a conversation. Likewise, an angry or upset person may find it difficult to communicate with you without letting their emotions take over.
A person in pain or having breathing problems may be physically unable to communicate. In addition, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) like face masks makes communication difficult for individuals who are deaf or rely on lip reading. Similarly, deaf individuals can’t hear people clearly through face coverings and face difficulty in understanding and communicating with people.
Another barrier to effective communication in health and social care is certain environments. For instance, you may find trouble in earing others in a noisy room. Moreover, an uncomfortable environment like too dark or too warm/cold room for the service user makes it less likely for them to have communication.
A certain health condition in service users leads to difficulty in communication. For instance, a person suffering from stroke or dementia is unable to think and give reason properly. Additionally, a person experiencing a mental health condition like depression may find it difficult to express themselves.
It’s essential to overcome communication barriers if you have to provide person-centred care. Understanding when someone has difficulty communicating and taking certain actions to help them can effectively improve their quality of life.
Remember, communication is a two-way process as it involves listening to others and delivering your messages. Therefore, to have effective communication, it’s crucial to consider the ways you convey your message and receive it from others.
Here’s how you can promote effective communication in health and social care settings:
Consider the way you position yourself while assisting the service user. For instance, if you are having a conversation, your chairs should be facing each other.
Think about how much distance you should keep from them. Staying too close might make them feel uncomfortable; however, you need to get closer to a patient for providing personal care or taking a blood sample. In this regard, make sure to inform the individual about what you are going to do before taking the action.
Using your listening skills while communicating with an individual is important to have effective communication in health and social care. For instance, listen actively to what they say and nod your head to encourage them to keep talking. Give a smile while talking or raise your eyebrows at what they have said. Doing these gestures will make them feel valued and heard.
Ensure to give people enough time for communication and don’t rush them. People having learning disabilities or lower energy levels may take longer to process information and give a response. Make sure to communicate with them at a pace that is comfortable for them.
Communication is more than just words. Therefore, it’s necessary to pay attention to the following:
Don’t be hesitant to ask questions if you don’t understand what someone said instead of making assumptions. If you haven’t heard someone, ask them to repeat themselves rather than pretending to hear to avoid doing things the wrong way.
In summary, effective communication in health and social care is crucial in delivering high-quality and person-centered care. Therefore, address any communication barriers and take considerable action to promote good communication. In healthcare, recognizing the importance of good communication is invaluable. In navigating health and safety concerns, effective communication becomes a cornerstone for optimal patient care and a secure environment. Explore our training programs to enhance your skills for a safer healthcare landscape.
