Effective communication between healthcare providers and patients to promote understanding, trust, and collaboration in healthcare decisions.
Communication models: Theoretical frameworks for understanding communication processes, including linear, interactive, and transactional models.
Communication channels: Different ways in which communication can occur, including face-to-face, phone, email, and telehealth.
Patient-centered care: The approach to healthcare that prioritizes the patient’s values, preferences, and needs in decision-making.
Health literacy: The ability to understand and use health information effectively in order to make informed decisions.
Cultural competence: Understanding and respecting the cultural differences that can affect communication and healthcare outcomes.
Active listening: Paying attention, asking questions, and responding appropriately to what someone is saying in order to increase understanding.
Empathy: The ability to understand and share the feelings of others, which is important for building trust and rapport.
Shared decision-making: Collaborative approach to decision-making between patients and providers that takes into account the patient’s values, preferences, and clinical evidence.
Health coaching: A process that involves facilitating behavior change and improving self-management skills, often used in chronic disease management.
Motivational interviewing: A style of communication that focuses on exploring and resolving ambivalence about behavior change, often used in addiction treatment.
Trust and rapport building: Factors that contribute to establishing trusting and positive relationships between patients and providers.
Communication skills training: Techniques and exercises used to develop communication skills, such as active listening and empathy.
Patient feedback: Gathering patient perspectives and using feedback to improve communication and healthcare delivery.
Electronic health records (EHR): Systems used to store and manage patient health information, which can affect communication and patient-provider relationships.
Health communication campaigns: Public health campaigns aimed at improving knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors around health-related issues.
Verbal communication: This is the most common type of communication between patients and healthcare professionals, which involves exchanging information, discussing treatment options, and providing instructions.
Written communication: Written communication involves providing written information about a patient's medical condition, treatment plan, or medications. It can be in the form of discharge instructions, medication labels, or medical reports.
Electronic communication: This is a type of patient-provider communication that involves the use of electronic technologies like email, text, or video conferencing. Telemedicine services are a common example of electronic communication.
Non-verbal communication: Non-verbal communication includes body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions. It can convey emotions and attitudes, which can impact patient satisfaction and health outcomes.
Informed consent: Informed consent is a type of patient-provider communication that occurs before a patient undergoes a medical procedure. It involves communicating the risks, benefits, and alternatives of treatment options to the patient so that they can make an informed decision about their care.
Shared decision-making: Shared decision-making involves patients and healthcare providers working together to make a healthcare decision that is in the patient's best interest. It involves communication, information sharing, and mutual respect.
Health education: Health education involves providing patients with information about their medical condition, treatment options, and ways to maintain good health. It can be provided in a variety of formats, including print materials, video content, or online resources.
Emotional support: Emotional support involves empathetic communication and active listening to help patients cope with the emotional aspects of their medical condition. Healthcare providers can provide emotional support to patients and their families as part of their care.