Communication 2 Flashcards
9Special circumstances that affect communications
- Patients who do not speak the language the radiographer understands
- The hearing impaired patients
- Patients with Deafness
- Patients with impaired vision
- Patients who are unable to speak
- Patients with impaired mental function
- Patients with impaired mental function
- Patients with altered state of consciousness
Define culture
the socially inherited characteristics of a group
of people that are transmitted from one generation to the next
Inherited characteristics
- nationality,
- race,
- language,
- religious faith,
- food preferences,
- traditions
The radiographer should assess each patient as they interact with them to avoid infringing upon their cultural identity, This assessment requires critical thinking & directly impacts on the plan of care. What are the areas of assessment.
- Culture
What are the customs and values of this patient that may affect the treatment of this
patient? - Sociological
What is the patient’s economic status, his/her educational background & his family
background - Psychological
How will the patient’s self-concept & sexual identity affect my plan of care - Physiological & biological
Are there anatomical & racial aspects of this patient that may affect my plan of care
How does a radiographer become a member of therapeutic health care
by practicing a series of communication techniques called therapeutic communication techniques
Therapeutic communication techniques
- Establishing guidelines
- Reducing distance
- Listening
- Silence
- Responding to the underlying message
- Restating the main idea
- Reflecting the main idea
- Seeking & providing clarification
- Making observation
- Exploring
- Validating
- Focusing
- Establishing guidelines for the interaction with the patient.
- Introducing yourself to the patient
- Provide an explanation of the procedure to be performed
- Give an explanation of what is expected of the patient & what
the patient can expect from the radiographer - Communication should be clear, concise and non threatening in manner, ensures compliance
- Reducing distance
- Reduced physical distance between patient & yourself enhances
effective communication - Proximity makes the patient feel included and involved but don’t
invade their personal space - Face the patient directly, maintain eye contact when speaking & being
spoken to - Avoid postures that convey a lack of receptiveness of the patient i.e.
crosses-arms or legs by the radiographer
What shows that someone is not professional
Performance of other tasks while speaking to the patient
indicates disinterest in the patient i.e. using a phone, chewing
gum, reading newspaper or books etc.
- Listening
- Overcome your personal biases when listening to patients
- Dismiss the biases and assume a totally non-judgmental attitude
as you are listening to patient - Listen attentively so that you interpret what the speaker is saying
- Make sure you gather accurate information & understand the
feeling & meaning of the message the patient is trying to convey
4.Using silence
- Use of short periods of silence as one listens to the patient allows
the patient to arrange his thoughts and consider what he/she
wants to say - These periods also give the radiographer an opportunity to
assess the patients non-verbal communication as well as his own
5.Responding to the underlying message
When a patient expresses a feeling of disheartening or anger, joy or relief, lets
respond to that message to let him/her know that his/her feelings about the
situation have been understood
6.Restating the main idea
- Repeating the main idea expressed by the patient is a useful communication
technique - It validates the radiographers’ interpretation of the message and also informs the patients that he or she is being held
7.Reflecting the main idea
- Directing back to the patient the main idea of what he/she stated
- It keeps the patient as the focus of the communication & allows the patient
to explore his or her own feelings about the matter - In the process, radiographer then helps the patient to make his/her own
decision
7.Reflecting the main idea example
Patient
Do you think I really need this procedure? Am not sure it will help
Radiographer
Do you feel you should refuse this procedure?
- Restating the main idea example
Patient
I am having a lot of pain in my left hip, and I might need help getting up on
the examination table
Radiographer
You think that you will need help getting up on the table because of pain
Patient
Yes, will you help me?
8.Seeking and providing clarification
- Indicates to the patient that the radiographer is listening to what is being said but is not sure he has fully understood the message
- The radiographer clarify directions by using different terminology
- This may happen when you are giving instructions to the patient ie on special
examinations or any other procedures
9.Making observations
- Making observations or verbalizing the perceived feelings of the
patient
Example
Radiographer
You seem to be very tense, Madam Arinze. Are you concerned with the examination
10.Exploring
- The radiographer direct questions relating to the problems of the
patient - When the patient relates information about him/herself, pursue
the problem by exploring it further
- Exploring example
Patient
* Every time I receive that type of injection, I feel very strange
Radiographer
* Can you tell me what it feels like when you have this type of
injection?
11.Validating
Verifying what the patient has reported during the conversation.
Radiographer
Ms Palesa, you are saying that you have difficulty breathing when you are lying flat?
Patient
Yes, I must be in a sitting position in order to breathe well
