Key Communication Theories for Health & Social Care Professionals

Interpersonal communication is at the heart of healthcare and social care services. Various specialists in these fields must know the main theories about communication since first, it can help improve the situation of their patients; second, it is helpful to understand the intricacies of interpersonal relations on the team and with clients.  In this blog, we will look at some of the most important concepts in communication theory that any health and social care professional should be aware of. 

1. The Transactional Model of Communication

The Transactional Model of Communication is an active process in which interactivity is considered as the key aspect of communication. This model proposes that, in the communication process, both the sender and the receiver exchange messages that are equally important, and their positions are not fixed during the process. To health and social care professionals, this theory puts much value in feedback and flexibility. A doctor describing a course of action or a social worker outlining steps he would like to take with a family must be willing to listen. Patients or clients may have concerns, and thus professionals must take time to answer in the right manner to ensure they understand. However, this theory insists on the importance of listening. There is an understanding that the professionals who pay attention to the verbal and nonverbal communication of the clients can adapt their communication approach to improve the interaction. This view is in concert with the patient-centered model, where the client’s needs and preferences are given precedence. When writing on a course related to SWOT analysis, when doing academic assignments, understanding and embracing the feedback and the two-way communication concept can enhance one’s interaction with tutors and other students. Likewise, while looking for medical assignment help the Transactional Model can be used to improve the understanding of customers and brand messages.

2. Shannon-Weaver Model of Communication 

The Shannon-Weaver Model of Communication also known as the “mother of all communication models” emphasizes the technical communication process. It explains how messages can be encoded by the sender, in a channel, decoded by a receiver, possibly getting ‘disturbed’ by ‘noise’. This noise can be anything from physical noise to interpretational noise for cultural reasons or emotional reasons. It has been stated that in health and social care organizations, people who provide care or receive it might have various language barriers; they might be emotionally disturbed; or they might have some physical impairments. It is hoped that an analysis of the Shannon-Weaver model will enable them to prepare for these barriers For instance, a nurse talking to a patient of a different language may need to use graphics or an interpreter to minimize ‘noise’ to ensure the message passed is understood correctly. The model enables professionals to consider what makes communication go wrong by dissecting it into key facets and identifying the areas of interference. This is especially true for medical or social care information where there are likely to be severe repercussions whenever an understanding of the content is misunderstood. The Shannon-Weaver model can also be applied in case a student needs mental health nursing assignment help It enables learners to examine how efficient communication can take place in various business, marketing, or healthcare contexts and then look for ‘noise’ in the strategies implemented.

3. Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Cognitive Dissonance theory is one of the theories formulated by Leon Festinger and it primarily asserts that persons feel a sort of psychological stress when he or she possesses two separate but conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. This ‘cognitive discomfort’, or inconsistency, makes people eliminate or at least reduce the inconsistency, either through the modification of their beliefs or rationalizing of actions. To health and social care professionals, Cognitive Dissonance Theory is for instance applicable when working with regards to lifestyle changes of patients. For example, the social worker may spend time with a client who is witnessing relapse and who is an addict and may realize that although the service user wishes to stop they are still using substances. The conflict between what the client wants to do and what he does can be painful, creating tension hence resistance. In such circumstances, people can easily find themselves in internal conflict, and according to communication strategies, the professional is supposed to guide the client on how to deal with such a situation. For instance, motivational interviewing is a proven technique that assists clients analyze their indecision and conflicting attitudes on change behaviors. In academic circles, students can develop dissonance when trying to seek marketing essay help. Sometimes when pursuing help with marketing essays in an academic environment students experience this new concept called cognitive dissonance. At first, a student can feel confused by the opposing nature of a SWOT analysis but he or she can overcome this sort of concern if he or she learns more about how strengths and weaknesses affect opportunities and threats. In the same way, Cognitive Dissonance Theory when applied to marketing essays enables students to explain consumer decision-making whenever individuals have two separate beliefs that are contradictory about brands.

4. Communication Accommodation Theory

CAT posits that people adapt their mode of communication either in a direction similar to or opposite of the target of communication, for the bearing of a specific social objective. The theory posits two main strategies: The first type is depicted by convergence where people aim at becoming more similar to the other person they are communicating with while the second type is called divergence where people work extra hard to put more focus on the differences in the communication. This theory is especially important in the health and social care environment when the worker is dealing with a multicultural population. For instance, a care worker could use the right communication and physical signs to embrace a patient of a different culture as he or she does. This strategy helps to build rapport, as well as guarantee that the patient has a feeling she or he is being listened to. However, the same professional can apply divergence in some circumstances like using formal language to create authority when treating a harsh issue like an illness. Realizing how companies adapt their communication modes to deliver the right message to a specific audience or how healthcare organizations adapt their communication for different patient needs will help both practice and academic knowledge of these theories are applied, the health and social care professionals, and the students, are able to enhance the results, develop cooperation, and have more profound relationships. These frameworks can be applied to patient interactions and also in writing a marketing essay to provide better insight on how to communicate and be more empathetic.