Efficacy of Personal and Professional Communication - Research Paper Example

?Efficacy of Personal and Professional Communication In health care, effective communication qualifies as a complex concept encompassing social interactions during promotion and delivery of quality care in every health sector (Kreps, Bonaguro, & Query, 1998). This type of communication pattern focuses on dynamic contact between medical colleagues and the clients they serve. Health care communication, then, assists clients develops health promoting values and attitudes through well-founded theoretical models. In addition, two prominent areas constructively exploit communication schemes to full potentials--interpersonal and professional categories in communication (Schiavo, 2007). Yet, application of its principles seems neglected in actual clinical set-ups. Although the efficacy of health care communications is disregarded by some, interpersonal and professional communication patterns play primary roles in enhancing quality services, connecting communication gaps, and preventing clinical practice errors. Interpersonal Health Communication Interpersonal communication functions as one of the main areas that need close scrutiny. In clinical settings, interpersonal contact means “provider-client communication,” which serves as the primary source of association (Schiavo, 2007). Accordingly, clients place their full trust on their clinical providers, in return, the medical staffs do their best to assure their clients’ condition--clients fully depend on health providers for support and treatment. Initially, clients seek health-related advice regarding their health status, establishing interpersonal contact between clients and health providers. In the process of medical consultation, health providers are accountable in exhibiting intellectual and psychological skills in handling their clients (Hubble, Trowbridge, Hubbard, Ahsens, & Ward-Smith, 2008). Part of basic function is forming personal relationship with clients during preliminary inquiry on physiological and psychological disposition. As this is a delicate matter, competent communication techniques must be exhibited by providers--draw out accurate and reliable information as chief basis for further management and treatment. In the assurance of therapeutic interpersonal communication, this augment client awareness and comprehension with suggested care plan, while being time-effective during assessment and examination period (Gordon, 2002). Evidently, the performance of efficient interpersonal strategy in health communication assumes that clients get quality medical attention they seek, and health staff gets to perform their obligatory functions more proficiently. Professional Health Communication In another communication area, professional communication serves as important aspect in the care of clients. Schiavo (2007) illustrates this communication classification as involving health providers in a “peer-to-peer approach...to promote the adoption of best medical and health practice.” In this statement, the professional category in health care communications indirectly affects the clients in the pursuance of standardized medical practice. Through cooperative relationship, each member assumes individual and team responsibilities during decision-making and resolving client-related management issues (O’Daniel, & Rosenstein, n.d.). Team collaboration elevates the features of care provided, in all phases of health process. Their expert exchange of medical information and active participation in the care of clients is critical in achieving holistic health care services and positive health outcomes. Excellent professional communication serves as best defense against medical errors and neglect (Smith, & Mishra, 2010). Above all else, the professional health team can uphold their oath to ensure patient welfare in every action they perform. As health personnel apply the skill of therapeutic communication in professionally handling clients, they are in best position to create health awareness and modify behaviors towards better physiologic and psychological well being. Indeed, professional health care communication bridges gaps between hesitant clients and unaccommodating clinical staff. Impact of Inefficient Health Communications As effective tools, interpersonal and professional health communication lays medical groundwork for “documentation...treatment plans, and specific desires related to care” (Hubble et al., 2008). Diagnosis of pathological conditions and eventual treatment management are guided by data sets obtained during assessment and examination. In the failure of doing so, subsequent health care provisions will fall in futile attempts. Oftentimes, sources of problems in interpersonal communication originate from health practitioners, where inappropriate communication tactics are manifested: stoic approach upon initial contact, lack of professional enthusiasm and empathy regarding client status, and non-therapeutic manner in handling client information and potential management (Berry, 2007). Bearing witness to vindictive attitudes, clients will never be inclined to pursue health contact in seeking medical assistance. In terms of staff interaction, studies reveal threats behind the absence of sufficient professional communication. As relay of medical information is crucial in client care, inaccuracies in data dissemination may lead to client injury, and even death. O’Daniel and Rosenstein (n.d.) recounted barriers to dynamic communication, including loss of authoritative control, mistrust on colleagues’ capabilities, disagreements on professional beliefs and lack of follow through knowledge on other medical personnel involved in client care. In an uncooperative environment, health staff works separately, disregarding proper communication channels in care--compromising quality care and client safety. Theoretical Application in Communications The concept of health care communication encompasses several theoretical concepts and principles, all of which accounts for full utilization of clinical data sets in client care and management. Health communication, as explained by Watzlawick, Beavin, and Jackson (as cited in Sheldon, 2007), are primarily divided into to two areas, “relationship and the content levels” (p. 5). The former denotes the association between client and health providers, while the latter indicates the importance of precise information in client management. In therapeutic communications, health care providers promote a good relationship with clients through nonthreatening communication patterns. Relevantly, such ideal fits the principles in Rogerian Model. Formulated by Carl Rogers, therapeutic communications focus on developing relationships based on better interactions--including interpersonal and professional relations within health care settings (Sheldon, 2007). As trust and mutual understanding is fostered in health care, accurate information are collected, interpreted and applied to formulate effective plans in improving conditions suffered by clients. Active discussions are possible and solutions are explored--educated predictions on care are also exhibited as part of the health care process (College of Nurses of Ontario, 2009). Through practical principles in therapeutic communications, there is better clinical awareness on all parties involved; this allows for progression of relationship in all levels of health service--bridge communication gaps, augment quality health services, and eliminate medical errors in all sectors of clinical settings. All in all, interpersonal and professional health care communications are effective means for creating reliable relationships in all levels of health care. With such tools, conflicts in mistrust and uncooperativeness between clients, their providers, and in-between health personnel, are addressed and handled. As there is unequal interpersonal role played by clients and providers of care, [with health practitioners assuming medical omniscience], therapeutic communication assures that such events do not hinder the collaborative interaction. Even professional health staff needs the principles of therapeutic communication to dispel doubts within their health team. Hence, health care communication is indispensable in health care processes, as well as in the functional relationships behind it. References Berry, S. (2007). Health Communication: Theory and Practice. New York, NY: Open University Press. College of Nurses of Ontario. (2009). Therapeutic nurse-client relationship, Revised 2006. The Standard of Care. Retrieved from http://www.cno.org/Global/docs/prac/41033_Therapeutic.pdf Gordon, G.H. (2002). Defining the skills underlying communication competence. Communication, 5 (3), 21-28. Hubble, R., Trowbridge, K., Hubbard, C., Ahsens, L., & Ward-Smith, P. (2008). Effectively using communication to enhance the provision of pediatric palliative care in an acute care setting. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3004546/pdf/jmdh-1-45.pdf Kreps, G.L., Bonaguro, E.W., & Query, J.L. (1998). The history and development of the field of health communication. Russian Communication Association. Retrieved from http://www.russcomm.ru/eng/rca_biblio/k/kreps.shtml O’Daniel, M., & Rosenstein, A.H. (n.d.). Chapter 33. Professional communication and team collaboration. Retrieved from http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nurseshdbk/docs/O%27DanielM_TWC.pdf Schiavo, R. (2007). Health Communication: From Theory to Practice. United States of America: John Wiley & Sons. Sheldon, L.K. (2007). Communication for Nurses: Talking with Patients (2nd ed.). Canada: Jones and Barlett Publishers. Smith, A.F., & Mishra, K. (2010). Interaction between anaesthetists, their patients, and the anaesthesia team. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 105 (1), 60-68. Read More