Effective Communication and Barriers That May Prevent Effective Communication Within the Perioperative Setting Essay Example
A new holistic emphasis on the philosophy underpinning the role of peri-opereative practitioner has emerged in recent times and Department of Health (DOH) initiatives such as The NHS Plan (DOH 2000 p.1 – 9) (appendix a) and Essence of Care (DOH 2001, p 1 - 201) places the patient’s needs firmly in the centre of care provision. In meeting the holistic and individual needs of patients it is essential that excellent communication exist between patient, theatre colleagues and other departments (Plowes 1999, p217). This is especially true within the perioperative setting due to the relatively short time that practitioners interact with patients during perioperative care (Dyke 2000, p.74).
The ability to communicate effectively with others is fundamental to all patient care and it is widely considered that effective communication is a significant determinant of patient compliance, satisfaction and recovery (Faulkner 1998, p.1). It is not surprising therefore, that the Royal College of Surgeons rank the skill of effective communication equally with technical competence within the theatre environment (Mansfield, Collins, Phillips, Ridley & Smith 2002, p.1 – 50) (appendix b).
The skills involved in providing effective communication are vast and varied, however, due to the word constraint of this essay it has not be possible to explore every aspect of communication. Therefore, only aspects deemed by the author, to be relevant to clinical practice are discussed.
There are various modes of communication, verbal, non verbal and written (Dyke 2000, p.67). Verbal communication, described as the “What” of communication, concerns the words we use to explain our feelings, ideas and emotions and integral within verbal communication is the process of effective or active listening (Ralston 1998, p8 -11).
Non verbal communication, described as the “How” of communication, relates to how we speak both unconsciously and consciously (Ralston 1998, p8 -11) and
The ability to communicate effectively with others is fundamental to all patient care and it is widely considered that effective communication is a significant determinant of patient compliance, satisfaction and recovery (Faulkner 1998, p.1). It is not surprising therefore, that the Royal College of Surgeons rank the skill of effective communication equally with technical competence within the theatre environment (Mansfield, Collins, Phillips, Ridley & Smith 2002, p.1 – 50) (appendix b).
The skills involved in providing effective communication are vast and varied, however, due to the word constraint of this essay it has not be possible to explore every aspect of communication. Therefore, only aspects deemed by the author, to be relevant to clinical practice are discussed.
There are various modes of communication, verbal, non verbal and written (Dyke 2000, p.67). Verbal communication, described as the “What” of communication, concerns the words we use to explain our feelings, ideas and emotions and integral within verbal communication is the process of effective or active listening (Ralston 1998, p8 -11).
Non verbal communication, described as the “How” of communication, relates to how we speak both unconsciously and consciously (Ralston 1998, p8 -11) and