Barriers in Communication

Jargon

Specialized terminology used within a particular field, like medicine, that may not be understood by those outside of it.

Medicalese

Overly technical or complex medical language used by healthcare professionals.

Acronyms

Abbreviations formed from the initial letters of other words, often used in healthcare (e.g., EKG, MRI).

Slang

Informal words and phrases used in casual conversation, which can be a barrier if not understood.

Literacy

The ability to read, write, and comprehend information, a barrier when a patient has low health literacy.

Health Literacy

The degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services.

Language Barrier

A situation where two or more people do not speak a common language.

Interpreter

A person who translates spoken words from one language to another.

Cultural Competence

The ability to understand, appreciate, and interact with people from cultures or belief systems different from one's own.

Stereotyping

A fixed, oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or group.

Bias

Prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.

Empathy

The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Sympathy

Feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune.

Active Listening

A communication technique where the listener fully concentrates, understands, responds, and remembers what is being said.

Passive Listening

Hearing what is being said without actively engaging or providing feedback.

Nonverbal Cues

Body language, facial expressions, and gestures that convey meaning.

Proxemics

The study of the use of space in communication, like personal distance.

Haptics

The study of touch as a form of communication.

Kinesics

The study of body movements, gestures, and facial expressions as a form of nonverbal communication.

Vocalics

The non-lexical components of communication by speech, such as pitch, tone, and volume.

Emotional Barrier

A psychological block that prevents a person from understanding or expressing emotions.

Fear

An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, which can impede communication.

Anxiety

A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

Distrust

The feeling that someone is not honest, reliable, or truthful.

Cognitive Barrier

A mental block that interferes with a person's ability to think, reason, or communicate effectively.

Dementia

A chronic or persistent disorder of the mental processes caused by brain disease or injury and marked by memory disorders, personality changes, and impaired reasoning.

Aphasia

Loss of ability to understand or express speech, caused by brain damage.

Physical Barrier

A tangible obstacle that prevents effective communication.

Noise

A physical disturbance that interferes with the ability to hear or concentrate on a message.

Hearing Impairment

A total or partial decrease in the ability to detect or understand sounds.

Visual Impairment

A decreased ability to see to a degree that causes problems not fixable by usual means, like glasses.

Privacy

The state or condition of being free from being observed or disturbed by other people.

Confidentiality

The state of keeping information private or secret.

Time Constraints

Limitations on the amount of time available, often a barrier in busy healthcare settings.

Gatekeeping

The process of controlling what information is disseminated to a patient.

Power Dynamics

The way power relationships between people affect their communication.

Patronizing

Treating a patient with an apparent kindness that betrays a feeling of superiority.

Empowerment

The process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights.

Adherence

The extent to which a patient's behavior coincides with medical advice.

Compliance

The act or process of meeting certain demands or rules, often used to describe patient behavior.

Patient Advocacy

The promotion and protection of the rights, dignity, safety, and well-being of patients.

Informed Consent

The process by which a patient learns about and understands the purpose, benefits, and potential risks of a medical treatment or procedure.

Disability

A physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.

Stigma

A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.

Stereotype Threat

A situational predicament in which people are or feel themselves to be at risk of confirming negative stereotypes about their social group.

Health Disparity

A particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage.

Cognitive Overload

A state of having too much information to process at one time, leading to difficulty in understanding.

Communication Breakdown

A failure to exchange information, resulting in a lack of understanding between people.

Patient-Centered Care

A model of care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values.

Interprofessional Communication

The process of communicating with individuals from different professions within the healthcare system.