Healthcare Interpersonal Communication Research Paper

Healthcare Interpersonal Communication - Research Paper Example Communication is important in practically all human endeavors, especially in the provision of healthcare. The Mental and Physical Health Platform noted that â€Å"better communication and cooperation between medical disciplines, careers, families and service users, must be prioritized to ensure a 360 ° approach to mental and physical health† (Bowis et al., n.d., p. 1). All those involved in healthcare- health professionals, patients and family members should be able to communicate well as part of good practices in improved recognition, monitoring, diagnosis and management of health problems. Likewise, the Mental and Physical Health Platform recognized that implementation of â€Å"measures for improved health literacy, access to better health promoting services, information and advice on lifestyle changes and other factors â€Å" is pat of empowering the â€Å"service users together with their families and careers†. Definitely, effective communication is vital in thi s empowerment. Ensuring effective communication is a great task which should be pursued by the healthcare providers. There are communication problems which have to be identified, and properly solved to guarantee the desired results in healthcare provision and management: health, survival and quality of life. â€Å"The relationship between patient-clinician communication and outcomes of care is, from a conceptual standpoint, one of the least developed areas of communication research† (Pathways from Communication to Health Outcomes: Mediators and Moderators, n.d., p. 56). Applications of interventions and other solutions to communication problems are vital to healthcare provision and management. Identification of barriers and other interpersonal communication problems and their possible solutions, between and among healthcare professionals and patients will improve delivery of healthcare services. There are three types of Interpersonal communication (IPC), namely, caring/socio- emotional communication, diagnostic communication/problem solving and counseling According to De Negri et al. (1995, p. 15), effective IPC is the one resulting in the following outcomes: 1. The patient discloses enough information about the illness to lead to an accurate diagnosis. 2. The provider, in consultation with the client, selects a medically appropriate treatment acceptable to the client. 3. The client understands his or her condition and the prescribed treatment regimen. 4. The provider and the client establish a positive rapport. 5. The client and the provider are both committed to fulfilling their responsibilities during treatment and follow-up care. Nevertheless, the aforementioned outcomes cannot be perceived as the guiding line within the context of effective communication. These steps generally include encouraging a two-way dialogue, establishing a partnership between patient and provider, creating an atmosphere of caring, bridging any social gaps between provider an d client, accounting for social influences, effectively using verbal and non-verbal communication, and allowing patients ample time to tell their story (De Negri et al., 1995, p. 15). COMMUNICATION BETWEEN HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS â€Å"Poor communication has been shown to lead to disruptions in continuity of care, delayed diagnoses and duplication of or unnecessary interventions† (Astrom et al., 2007, p. 279). In the study of Astrom et al. (2007, pp. 279-285), it was shown that communication between individuals