Question

You have read about and watched videos regarding communication with patients and health care workers. There can be a communication breakdown between healthcare workers and patients or families and between healthcare workers themselves. There are other barriers including disability, language, culture, inability to read or write, etc. Name three specific different communication challenges that can arise when caring for patients in the healthcare environment and give examples (at least 2 for each) of techniques to help overcome each of these challenges.

Answer 1

Name three specific different communication challenges that can arise when caring for patients in the healthcare environment and give examples (at least 2 for each) of techniques to help overcome each of these challenges.

Communication is the exchanging of information by 2 or more people through gestures, speaking, writing, facial expressions or via further ways. In health care settings, communication is imperative in providing good and effective quality of patient care. Failures in communication can cause confusions and severe complications and difficulties in patient care and some time that can affect the life of the patient and care givers. Poor communication is like a poison which will negatively affect patient care. Three specific communication challenges are the following.

1. Challenges within the clinical team: Communication issues with in the clinical team is a big challenge in providing patient care. It includes poor communication among doctors and nurses regarding the patients conditions, improper handing over of duty without giving proper information about patient, Poor recording and reporting of patient status

2. Improper communication from patients:

Sometimes patient might not tell the exact history of their disease conditions. For eg: patient might hide some facts. This can leads to misinterpretation of the cause of a particular condition

3. Provider to patient communication issues:

Sometimes doctors and nurses will never give proper information about their conditions and things they have to follow in after discharge from hospital. Language barrier issues can also be a problem

Techniques to help overcome each of these challenges

1. In challenges within the clinical team:

a. Provide proper orientation to clinical team from heads regarding how to communicate among clinical team

b. Proper reporting and recording

2. In the case of improper communication from patients:

a. Inform them about the need of a proper history in diagnosis and treatment

b. Be empathetic and listen to them

3. Provider to patient communication issues:

a. Proper health education on post discharge activities

b. Assign providers who can communicate in local language