Attitudes And Communication In Patient Care Flashcards
What is the health continuum?
A spectrum from positive to negative perception of well-being
Well being? Or despair?
Professional attitudes to develop
- teamwork
- work ethic
- health role model
- sympathy
- empathy
- assertiveness
Maslow’s hierarchy of needs
- Physiologic needs
- Safety and security
- love and belonging
- self-esteem and the esteem of others
- self-actualization
Individuals regress when they lose a sense of?
Physical or emotional well being
Regressive behavior signs may include:
And what does the R.T. Do in response?
- aggressive demands
- withdrawn silences
- Inability to communicate effectively
Assess patient’s needs so you can communicate in a “therapeutic” manner
- > Reassure
- > Comfort
What is communication?
• “ a constantly changing process made up of both spoken and unspoken messages that go from sender to receiver.”
What are six components of communication?
- Message
- Source
- Channel
- Receiver
- Context
- Feedback
What is nonverbal communication?
- “all stimuli other than the spoken word.”
- constitutes 75% of the message
Look for non-verbal cues
- facial expressions
- lack of eye contact
- Posture
- gestures
- mode of dress
- grooming; etc..
What is Medical Ethnocentrism?
• the belief that health care providers, educated and socialized within a biomedical context, have a superior value system and correct, accurate approach to health care
AKA: a white lab coat - intelligence in health care
Tips for providing Culturally Competent Care
- don’t stereotype people
- respect the patient’s beliefs, however strange they may appear to you
- don’t neglect the patient’s family
- respect and do not discount a patient’s concern about supernatural influences on his/her health and well being
What is the main objective of health care team?
To do what is in best interest of patient
If patient feels like a number, you have created a non-therapeutic relationship
What are ten techniques for therapeutic communication?
1. Establish communication guidelines • introduce yourself • explain the exam procedure to the patient • answer questions • explain your expectations of the patient • describe what the patient can expect from you 2. Reduce distance 3. Listen in a therapeutic manner • be non-judgmental • don't analyze • just listen 4. Use therapeutic silences 5. Respond to the underlying message 6. Restate the main idea 7. Reflect the main idea 8. Seek and provide clarification 9. State your observations 10. Ask exploring questions
Blocks to therapeutic communication
- don’t talk too fast
- don’t use medical jargon
- don’t use slang or colloquialisms
- don’t give instructions to patient’s in noisy areas or where there are distractions
- allow patient enough time to answer questions
- don’t offer false reassurance
- don’t be judgmental
- don’t be defensive
- don’t change the subject when the patient is speaking
- don’t give advice
Communication with patients’ families
• empathy and patience are required • useful information -Restrooms -Cafeteria -Waiting areas -Length of procedure -Delays encountered -Follow-up care
Patient support services
- family/friends
- pastoral care
- patient-to-patient support groups
- psychological support groups
- hospice
- home care
What factors can affect patient’s emotional responses?
- age
- gender
- marital/family status
- socioeconomic factors
- cultural/ religious variations
- physical condition
- self-image
- past health experiences
- beliefs
- attitudes
- prejudices
- self-awareness
What are some causes of grief?
- aging
- physical injury or disability
- disease
- loss of a body part
- loss of body function
- death of a loved one
- knowledge of own impending death
What are five phrases of grief
Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
• Denial • Anger * Bargaining • Depression • Acceptance
Some challenges with communication
- non-english speaking
- hearing impairment
- vision problems
- aphasia (inability to speak)
- mentally impaired
- altered states of consciousness
- children/adolescents
- geriatric
What is geriatrics?
It is the branch of medicine dealing with the aged and the problems of the aging
What is the radiographers role in geriatrics?
- R.T.’s must be prepared to meet the challenges of this population
- the whole person must be treated, not only their symptoms
- each person is unique
When communicating with elderly patients remember…
- senses diminish with age
- patience is key
- be empathetic and have a warm attitude
- don’t overload the patient with instructions
Physical, physiologic, and psychological changes to aware of with geriatric patients
- elderly patients can feel depressed and down
- they deal with physical and emotional losses
- orthostatic hypotension can occur
- give patients time to sit, before standing
What is ageism?
- ageism is a term used to describe stereotyping and discrimination against elderly
- elderly patients are stereotyped as being senile, miserable and dependent on others
- negative attitudes arise towards elderly patients because they aren’t able to cooperate as well as we would like
Chronic conditions of the elderly
- osteoarthritis
- diabetes
- COPD
- heart disease
- hypertension
- hearing and visual impairment
- Cataracts
- Varicose Veins
Tips for working with the elderly
- take time to educate the patient and family
- speak slower, lower and closer
- treat patients with dignity and respect
- give patients time to rest between x-rays
- avoid adhesive tape (may tear skin)
- provide warm blankets
- use table pads and hand rails
Methods of patient identification
- verify name/ D.O.B.
- wrist band
- physician’s order
- chart
- institution specific
What should be explained to patient?
- positioning
- length of procedure
- immobilization devices
- machine movement/sounds
