Introduction to Communication Skills

The ability to convey information to another effectively and efficiently is vital. Healthcare practitioners with good verbal and non-verbal communication skills help facilitate the sharing of information other health professionals, patients and significant others.


Reasons Why Healthcare Practitioners Need To Develop Good Communication Skills

Effective communication skills in the healthcare field help to build and maintain strong relationships between both healthcare professionals and patients, and healthcare professionals and their associates. Healthcare professionals need to develop effective communication skills to:
  •  Explaining a diagnosis, condition or treatment
  •  Discussing treatments, conditions and diagnosis with patients
  • Speaking with family members
  • Speaking with other healthcare professionals
  • Communicating bad news
  • Obtaining consent for various procedures
  • Calming down upset patients or relatives
  • Explaining medications
  • Educating people on diet and exercise


What is Communication?

Communication is sending and receiving information between two or more people. The person sending the message is referred to as the sender, while the person receiving the information is called the receiver. The information conveyed can include facts, ideas, concepts, opinions, beliefs, attitudes, instructions and even emotions.

The Communication Process

The communication process is the steps taken to achieve a successful communication. There are 7 components which include

1.      Sender:           This is the party that sends the message
2.      Message:         The information to be conveyed
3.      Encode:          This involves transforming the thoughts of the information to be conveyed into a form that can be sent, such as words.
4.      Channel of Communication: This involves the manner in which the message is sent. They include speaking, writing, video transmission, audio transmission, etc.
5.      Receiver:        This is the group or the individual which the message is targeted.
6.      Decode the message:  This involves mentally processing the message into understanding.
7.      Feedback:      This involves the receiver’s reaction or response to a message


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