Questions are important in a health and social setting as it is an effective way of communicating, this is because it widens the subject of a conversation. There are two types of questions, open questions require patients to extend their answer. This kind of question is mostly used when there is not enough exchange going on between the patient and the professional. These type of questions forces an answered to be a few words longer then a closed question. For example ‘How have you and your mother been? ‘This open question allows the individual to explain the given answer self-consciously .Professions should try to avoid closed questions as it may seem interrogating. ‘Do you and your mother talk?’ this kind of question can upset an individual, as it requires a direct answer. Open questions may be a better approach ‘As it allows the individual to open up if want to.
Prompting is another skill required in a health and social setting, it is affective as it encourages, or reminds individuals to say more. Its role is to get patients talking when there are difficulties, for example if a patient starts to cry in the middle of a counselling session prompting is required: ‘Is there anything else I could help you with‘. This encourages the patient to trust in the professional and open up to them as it shows empathy. Without any prompting skills sessions may be painfully silent and not helpful as there may be no conversation going on.
Effective communication and interactions are also made out of active listening, a way of showing that one may be actively listening, and the profession worker may need to paraphrase. Paraphrasing is a good way of communicating as it shows the patient that he or she is being listened to as their words are summarised together and questioned to confirm what has been said. Body language is also a good way of showing the patient that the profession worker is engaged and understanding what is being said by the service user. Body language may include nodding while the patient speaks, responding to the patient by saying simple words like: ‘Yes’ or making emotional responses such as: ’Oh’ to show the patient how much the professional may be respectfully listening ,sympathizing , emphasizing and understanding what is being said. These skills have a role to help professions in the health and social settings gain more trust and show a connection with their patient. Without this skill patient wouldn’t feel understood and therefore no longer express their self.
Rapport helps professionals match behaviours by verbally mirroring their patients and their pace of speech .It can show the patient that the professional is at the same stage and understands of what has been said. Rapport is a good way of gaining a patients trust, this skill builds relationship between the professional and the patient as the patient feels more relaxed and understood to what he or she is explaining.
Communication should be effective, the following methods above make a communication effective as it is part of the care value base. The care value helps in supporting the individual in all health and social settings, it encourages individuals to get rid of their problems by explaining them in depth without worrying about any type of negative thought or being scared of being judged from the professional. Professions are more able to help their patient if the communication is effective, as there is no misunderstanding between the professional and the patient, avoiding any conflict and tension.
Every individual has a right to their own beliefs and lifestyle and professional should respect this. For example in a conversation professionals should be judgemental as it would affect the communication making it less truthful as the individual may be avoiding any judgment opinions .In addition as part of a client’s care value he or she should be able to trust their carer with the given information /message, to ensure the given massage /information is not shared the professional should enhance that the conversation is confidential improving the conversation between them.
It is important for health and care setting professionals to show respected for individuals, and maintaining their dignity by talking to them with the right tone and manor. Also the diversity’s of individuals should be valued and recognise that individuals shouldn’t be treated differently because of their discriminatory prejudice, stereotype, race, age and other things that make one an individual. It is important that discrimination is banned from the environment as it may damage the clients care quality .For example one should not be treated less human, if a patient isn’t taking care of their personal hygiene for whatever reason. It is the professional’s job to still treat the individual equally fair, and talk to the individual in a respectful way. This promotes anti discriminatory ensuring that the individual is confident with their self and not feel like they may be in danger because of their differences giving them a sense of value.
by
aik11003119 (student)
