Therapeutic Communication Flashcards
Define communication?
Process of exchanging information and the process of generating and transmitting meaning between two or more individuals
What is intrapersonal
What goes on inside your head
What is interpersonal?
Your interactions with others. Including verbal and non verbal.
What should we be aware of when verbally communicating with a patient?
Tone of voice: calm and confident
Clear concise and simple statements
Avoid multiple meanings
Monitoring for understanding
Avoid medical jargon
What are some non verbal communication
Touch, eye contact, facial expressions, posture, gait, gestures, general physical appearance and silence
What are some visual ways to communicate?
Pain scale Wong Baker
Communication boards
Other examples include:
Gestures
Ways of dressing
What factors influence communication?
Gender
Sociocultural differences
Space and territory- recognize personal boundaries. Perform health history at a distance of 18 inch to 4 ft
Values- don’t impose your beliefs
Roles and responsibilities- treat everyone the same
Physical, mental, and emotional state
What are forms of communication in healthcare?
Verbal
Non verbal
Listening
Written
Visual
What are diminutives?
Inappropriately intimate terms of endearment, imply an unequal relationship
Examples of diminutives?
Honey, sweetie, dearie, grandma
What are alternative strategies for diminutives
Use full name
What are inappropriate plural pronouns and examples
Collective pronouns such as “we” when speaking to an independent adult
Example: are we ready for our pills?
What is a tag question?
Prompts the answer to the question, implies the person can’t act alone
What is an example of a tag question?
You would rather wear the blue socks wouldn’t you?
What is elderspeak?
Baby talk
Slow speech
Exaggerated speech
Elevated volume
Diminutives
Plural pronouns
Tag questions
Why is baby talk, slow speech, exaggerated speech and increased volume not appropriate when talking to elders?
These do not improve comprehension, and are perceived as patronizing or demeaning
What are some alternatives to elderspeak?
Lower the pitch of your voice, high tones are often the first to go with hearing loss
Shorten sentences and allow time for comprehension before continuing
Auditory processing speeds often slow with age
What are some barriers in communication in older adults?
Aphasia
Hearing problems
Voice problems
Dysarthria
What are some basic components of assertiveness
Having empathy
Describing one’s feelings or the situation
Clarifying ones expectations
Anticipating consequences
What is the impact of being aggressive to others?
Makes others feel disrespected
Triggers aggression in others
Builds walls
Escalates situations
Leads to negative interactions
What is the impact of being assertive with others?
Makes others feel valued and respected
Builds team players
Opens the door to collaborative solutions
Minimizes stressful situations
