Patient's responses to illness and treatment

Question 1

What is the psychological context of communication?

Answer 1

You (both) bring who you are to the interaction:

• Needs.
• Desires.
• Values.
• Personality.

Question 2

What is the relational context of communication?

Answer 2

Your reactions to the other person.

Question 3

What is the situational context of communication?

Answer 3

• The psychosocial (relating to the interrelation of social factors and individual thought and behaviour).
• Where you are communicating and to whom?
• Difference between the social and the professional interaction.

Question 4

What is the environmental context of communication?

Answer 4

• Accommodation.
• Distractions.
• Equipment/furniture.
• Temperature.

Question 5

What is the cultural context of communication?

Answer 5

• Different countries.

- Different areas.

Question 6

How can we give information?

Answer 6

Written, visually, verbally.

Question 7

How can we communicate through a written form?

Answer 7

Information leaflet - could be out of date, generic information and not specific to patient, got to think about language.

Question 8

How can we communicate visually?

Answer 8

• Videos.
• X-Rays.
• Posters.
• Diagrams.

Question 9

How can we communicate verbally?

Answer 9

• Body language.
• Patients will hear what they want to hear.
• In person or over the phone.
• Might need interpreter if there is a language barrier.

Question 10

To communicate effectively you should …

Answer 10

• Share with patients in a way they can understand the info (include associated risks and uncertainties and not just general information).
• Listen to patients: ask and respect their views, respond to their concerns.
• Know when to refer on to another professional and inform patient of your intentions.
• Respond appropriately to questioning.
• Always check their understanding.
• Make every attempt to meet the patients bio-psychosocial and cultural needs.

Question 11

What is “Murphy’s Law”?

Answer 11

• Things will go wrong in any given situation if you give them the chance.
• Put this in the context of communication: if a message can be understood in different ways, it will be understood in just that way that does the most harm.