Health Communication

1. Health Communication A.V.Pramuditha Madhavi RN, RM, B.Sc.N., MN(Canada), Dip.N.Ed(Colombo)

2. What is Communication? “Communication is the sharing of information, ideas, attitudes or emotions from one person or group to another primarily through symbols” (Wilson)

3. Why we need communication?

4. Levels of human communication Level 1 – Sender is mostly dominant and used to give commands purposefully. Receiver is passive and carryout orders (dynamic and strategic to meet needs) Level 2 – Both sender and receiver are interactive and involve internal and external processes. They perceives, interprets, and interrelate information to have new and common meaning.

5. Stages of cognitive development in children Sensorimotor stage Pre operational stage Concrete operational stage Formal operational stage

6. Sensorimotor stage Span from birth to 2 years of age Discover both self and the environment Learn through senses and immediate experiences Have an awareness of the environment Understand the pleasure and displeasure through vocal tones and sense of touch Express emotions through vocal tones & pitch

7. Preoperational stage Span from 2 years to 7 years Can communicate others what they want Gain control over themselves and environment Increase the understanding of the language Dramatically increase the vocabulary

8. Concrete operational stage Span from 7 years to 11 years Can view the external world Capable of thinking concretely See the environment as stressful Feel unhappy, miserable, and isolated Need help to cope with

9. Formal operational stage Adolescent period Develop the ability of abstract thinking Can consider several aspects of a situation Feel anxiety due to changes take place within themselves Try to transfer the anxiety to parents Parents feel difficult to communicate with them

10. What are the advantages of having learn about these developmental stages in terms of communication?

11. Mutual respect in communication Ability to see others’ perspective Criticism with respect Try to come to a common theme Achieving a common goal Giving feedback Feel the world as belongs to both, as the reality, and no boundaries

12. How memory, meaning, and symbols serve to communicate? Symbols arouse meanings in people Memory helps people to draw meanings Meaning helps to understand and being aware of particular concepts (It is very important to have similar and equal understanding of meanings of concepts in order to communicate effectively)

13. Types of communication Intra - personal communication Inter – personal communication Mass communication

14. Elements of the communication process Source Process of encoding Message Channel Process of decoding Receiver Feedback noise

15. What is health communication? The process of communication that take place in terms of health related issues Can what types of communication occur in health communication?

16. Models of communication purpose: To provide guidelines to understand different processes of communication

17. Shannon Weaver model Put forwarded in 1949 Describe as a one linear way process Start from source and end with receiver

18. SMRC model Put forwarded in1960 Involve the Source, Message, Channel, and Receiver Source formulate the message based on the knowledge, attitudes and skills Messages are transmitted through channels (five senses) Receiver interpret the message based on knowledge, attitudes and skills

19. Speech communication model Put forwarded in 1992 Process consist of speaker, receiver and feedback

20. Leary model Put forwarded in 1950 Emphasizes two dimensions Dominance and submission One party act dominantly while other party react passively

21. Health related models of communication Therapeutic model Health belief model Kings interaction model

22. Therapeutic model Developed by Carl Rogers in 1957 Client centered Take place between helper and helpee Helper should be therapeutic and understand the client in caring manner Client adjust to the circumstance in healthy way Helper need empathy, congruence and being nonjudgmental

23. Health belief model Has been developed from time to time Widely used in health care setting Emphasized on perceptions of patients/clients on health promoting activities Consists of 4 major aspects

24. Health belief model Con…. Four major aspects Individual’s perception on Susceptibility to and seriousness of an illness Beliefs and barriers to prevention Information available Demographic and socio-psychological variables influence modification of perceptions and beliefs

25. Kings interaction model Emphasize the importance of communication between the nurse and the patient/client Interactive process between the nurse and the client to make judgments about situations Describe the interpersonal relationship of the nurse and the patient Nurse help patients to develop health related goals and to maintain the health

26. Health communication model Describe 4 types of relationships in the health care setting, transaction and context as elements Health professionals are considered as capable of giving health care services Patients/clients receive health care Significant others are social network, family, friends etc.

27. Communication variables in nursing Empathy Control Trust Self disclosure Confirmation

28. Empathy Understanding others without being emotional Verbal expression of understanding Conveying that you understand others’ feelings Sympathy is different from empathy

29. How does empathy help nurses To develop a good relationship To develop the trust To give patients/clients courage and strength To give patients consolation To make others feel a relief and relaxation

30. What skills do you need to develop empathy?

31. Skills and qualities needed to develop empathy Skill of active listening Understanding the nonverbal language Understanding body languages Patient Genuineness and warmth

32. Control A feeling that you are capable of and responsible to deal with and manage the environment Have to be aware of the authority and power you have and where and how to use and limits Use to change undesirable situations towards positive aspects But allow others too to be dominant

33. Trust Accepting others without judgment or evaluation Essential component for health communication To develop trust with others Be honest Respect others Have faith and hope

34. Self disclosure Open up yourself, your thoughts and your feelings to others Facilitate open communication Develop a close relationship with others Facilitate others to understand yourself Consider to which extend you disclose yourself Accuracy and quality of information

35. Self disclosure Cont…. Help patients in selecting places and persons to disclose the self People should have intention or will to disclose. Cannot be forced

36. Confirmation Involving the acceptance and acknowledgement of others’ views Consist of all other variables Helps patients to feel reliving from fear, anxiety, loneliness, and being rejected Provide an assurance to the patients that their conditions are not critical.

37. Thank you