MEDICAL

Effective Communication in Heath and Social Care Settings

Effective Communication in Heath and Social Care Settings

Introduction

Health and social care has become an important field in communication sphere. Healthcare communication involves the study and practices of communication strategies preventing an illness or disease while the social care communication includes promoting health and quality of life of public and individuals. The frequency of health and social care communication research along with its practice has expanded greatly over the last few decades. Communication in both setting is a major responsibility which needs sustaining the relationship between the stakeholders. This paper discusses the role of effective communication in health and social care settings. In order to promote an effective communication it is also important to acknowledge barriers in communication and eliminating them through enhancing the communication skills.

Thesis Statement

“Effective communication within health and social care settings play an important role in providing services and treatment to individuals and families”.

Discussion

Better communication with people at all levels enables it to recognize the most important problems and find common ground for common action, and creates a climate of ownership and participation to implement its decisions. Communication is also essential to improve coordination and teamwork to manage development programs and get institutional support. In an age of communication researchers and practitioners are beginning to see its impact on healthcare services and institutions. Healthcare communication is a system of communication among different stakeholders. Healthcare communication is defined as the dealing that creates a connection between numerous healthcare clients and teams regarding issues that are related to healthcare. The model of healthcare communication views a broader perspective and includes the external factors that affect the healthcare setting, which persuades the participants also has an influence on the outcome obtained through interaction. The three major factors in healthcare communication are transactions, contexts and relationships (Loevinsohn, 1990). When healthcare and communication is discussed, it is directed to the connection between the patient's data and physician. The data of the patient should be delivered to the required physician.

A literature review has been conducted by Koeske (2008, pp.159-178) regarding social healthcare communication. They found supporting evidences of the fact that communication patterns of physicians affect the quality of diagnostic skill, history taking, patient compliance and patient health benefits (Milberg 2004, pp.605-618). It has been concluded that specific ways of communicating with patients may improve the medical care quality (Mechanic, 1998, pp. 661-86). The communication style that allows individuals to play an active role in communication may also change the role of the physicians and social workers in their settings. Eradicating interpersonal conflict is a key factor in improving health and social care communication. Interpersonal conflict is an inevitable aspect of the communication process. Conflict has been defined in scholarly literature as differences that arise between parties in terms of perceived incompatibility, beliefs, roles, values, and goals. In part because they often involve matters of life and death, professional identity, and the financial stability of individuals and organizations, health communication processes tend to intensify ...