Communication

Question 1

What are the 5 basic elements of the basic communication cycle

Answer 1

1. The sender
2. The message
3. The transmission
4. The receiver
5. Feedback
   (Tamparo & Lindh, 2017)

Question 2

What are 2 skills or strategies that can assist occupational therapists in achieving effective verbal communication?

Answer 2

1. Clarifying any client concerns or adapting communication to meet the client’s needs, can help to reach mutual understanding.
2. Recognise the inherent power imbalance between a health care professional and the individual(s) receiving health care services and their families and/or carers, and the impact this can have on communication (Henderson, 2003).
   The 5 Cs:
3. Complete
4. Clear
5. Concise
6. Cohesive
7. Courteous
   (Peterson et al, 2010)

Additional communication skill are listen on pages 108 - 109

Question 3

What are four strategies to build and enhance the therapeutic use of self in occupational therapy service delivery?

Answer 3

therapeutic use of self “refers to a therapist’s interactions with clients and, in particular, how they use their own self (for example, personality, insights, perceptions and judgements) to motivate clients and facilitate the therapeutic process (O’Brien, 2018; Taylor, 2008; 2020).

1. Posses a level of self awareness as to allow a mindful examination of their own role in the intervention/service delivery process (o’Brien, 2018)
2. Learn how to develop trust, provide support , display active listening and empathise by being able to place oneself in the position to understand the clients experience.
3. Develop empathy
4. Verbal communication
5. Non verbal communication
6. Active listening
7. Use of therapeutic modes
   These modes are:
8. Empathising
9. Collaborating
10. Encouraging
11. Problem solving
12. Instructing
13. Advocating
    (Taylor, 2020)

Do not always think about the most apparent or practical solution to a problem in preference to listening to the clients communication. (With regards to therapeutic modes)

Question 4

What are three strategies that occupational therapists should consider to ensure effective communication with individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds?

Answer 4

1. Reflect: Apply critical self awareness by evaluating personal and cultural values , beliefs and traditions. Be aware of your own cultural biases and tendances to stereotype.
2. Learn: Investing time to better understand cultural differences and similarities (For example, cultural sensitivity training, films/books).
3. Respect: Treat all people equally, regardless of difference. Respect should also be given to the environments in which the person lives and works, gender roles and generational relationships relative to different cultural groups.
4. Privilege: Explore and understand own privilege. Maintain confidentiality as a privileged learner of another persons story.
5. Do no harm: If for any reason you feel as though you do not have any skills and competency to help another person, refer them on to someone who will be able to provide appropriate support and care.
6. Listening: Demonstrate active listening and be aware of non verbal communication.
7. Promote social justice: Do not condone discrimination and ethnocentrism by remaining silent.
8. Social inclusion: Be aware and respect the differences between individualist (Places greater value on perception of ‘self’ and ‘I’, for example, Australia, United Kingdom, United States) and collectivist (Places greater value on perceptions of ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘the group’, for example China, India and Pakistan) Cultures.
9. High and low context cultures: Be aware of the differences between high context (Communication is full of implicit meaning; exemplify the value placed on non verbal communicateon) and low context (does not assume share background knowledge and understanding; almost everything is explained in words) cultures.
10. Use of interpreters: Use interpreters (preferably face to face otherwise consider phone interpreters) when indicated. Ensure that you are prepared, do not ask too many questions at once and direct the communication at the person and not the interpreter to build rapport.

Question 5

When would an occupational therapist consider using the DESC script, and what does it promote?

Answer 5

Describe the specific situation or behaviour using concrete data.

Express the concerns you have and how the situation makes you feel.

Suggest alternatives and seek agreement.

Consequences should be stated in terms of impact on established team goals, promotes a timely discussion and avoids blaming statements and focuses on what is right instead of who is right. (Bower & Bower, 2009)

The DESC script is a template for assertive communication that provides a constructive process for resolving conflicts that occur within teams (Bower & Bower, 2009)