ch 3 dh theory Effective Health Communication

Flashcards reviewing key concepts in effective health communication for dental hygienists.

Communication

Involves two or more people; Sender encodes and sends a message to a receiver who decodes it; Effectiveness depends on matching encoding and decoding; Can be verbal or nonverbal.

Verbal Communication

Based on language/words either spoken, written, or signed.

Nonverbal Communication

Messages expressed by body language or affect.

Goals of Health Communication

Increase health literacy, shared decision making, and accessible personal health information.

Skills/Attributes of Effective Communicators

Expertise and knowledge, understanding of learning/behavior change theories, relationship-building skills, interview skills, ability to assess readiness for change, attention to patient’s attitudes and beliefs, confidence, and flexibility.

Attributes of Effective Health Information

Evidence based, accurate, reliable; Consistent with other sources; Culturally and linguistically appropriate; Easy to understand; Provided when the patient is ready; Repeated and reinforced.

Overcoming Barriers to Effective Health Communication

Developing good listening skills, enhancing ability to assess patient needs, and treating each individual with empathy and respect.

Health Literacy

What the individual is capable of and an organization’s ability to improve patient access to health information.

Populations Vulnerable to Low Health Literacy

Older adults, immigrant populations, and minority populations.

Improving Organizational Health Literacy

Assess health literacy, examine clinic environment, encourage questions, provide plain language forms, build on patient knowledge, use visual aids, use teach-back.

Tips for Establishing Rapport

Listen more than talk, practice attentive listening, sit eye to eye, convey a nonjudgmental attitude, maintain a calm demeanor, use a normal tone of voice, look for clues, don't jump to conclusions, link information to daily activities.

Infants (Birth to 12 months)

Communicate through touch, sight, and hearing; interact playfully; encourage caregiver comfort; wait until calm to approach.

Toddlers and Preschoolers (Age 1–2 & 3–5 years)

Appreciate a direct approach, like to assert independence, offer encouragements, distract and redirect, state expectations simply, keep questions and instructions brief, avoid scary language.

School-Age Children (6–11 years)

Growing ability to understand serious events; think more of others; respond to simple questions.

Adolescents (12–21 years)

Intense feelings, strongly independent, can become withdrawn, needs privacy and confidentiality, address them directly.

Strategies for Effective Communication with Older Adults

Identify communication barriers, avoid patronizing speech, suggest writing down questions, practice attentive listening, maintain eye contact, speak slowly and clearly, use simple language, present one idea at a time, use visual aids, provide a written summary.

Physical and Cognitive Changes Affecting Communication

Cognitive disabilities, communication disorders (dysarthria, aphasia), sensory loss, physiologic changes.

Communication Predicament

Avoid overmodification of speech, accommodative speech, patronizing terms, and plural pronouns.

Social Determinants of Health

Awareness of where people are born, grow up, live, play, and age.

Impact of Social Determinants

Affects ability to receive health messages and contributes to disparities in health.

Cultural Considerations

Sociocultural differences affect communication; culturally sensitive care improves health outcomes.

Cultural Competence and DH Process of Care

Collecting data, making a diagnosis, planning oral health goals, implementing culturally appropriate communication, and evaluation based on goals and feedback.

Interprofessional Communication

Teamwork and collaboration between providers.

Communication with Caregivers

Communicate with caregiver as well as patient, keep focus on the patient, be sure of caregiver’s role, encourage patient independence.

Documentation Factors

Age, gender, ethnicity, health literacy, cultural characteristics, hearing loss, use of interpreter, and specific modifications.