Understanding Communication

Communication exists on a spectrum:

Effective Communication: Where the intended message is successfully conveyed and understood by the receiver.
Absence of Communication: No message is sent or received.
Ineffective Communication: Situations falling between effective communication and absence of communication, where the message is sent but not interpreted correctly or fully received.

Communication is not just about the words spoken or the message sent; it's also crucial how the receiver interprets and receives that message.
A message must be "unencoded" or decoded by the patient/receiver, meaning they need to comprehend and understand it as intended.
It's a two-way process; the sender's role is to send a clear message, but the receiver's ability to process and understand is equally vital.

Several variables can significantly impact how a message is received:

Pacing: Pay attention to your own pacing when communicating, but also consider the other person's pacing and their expectations.
Connotative Meaning: The underlying feeling or implication of a message, which may differ from the literal words. For example:
- A patient might verbally state, "I don't have any concerns about surgery," but their body language (e.g., appearing uneasy) suggests otherwise.
- It's important to clarify and explore these discrepancies to understand the deeper meaning or unstated concerns.
Body Language: Non-verbal cues are a significant part of communication. How one's body language is interpreted by another person can vary and greatly influence the overall message received.
External Context: The surrounding circumstances in which the communication takes place affect how the message is drawn and understood. For instance, stating "This class is fun" can have a different impact based on the actual classroom environment or ongoing activities.
Internal State of the Receiver: What is happening internally for the receiver at the moment of communication can affect their concentration and how they process the message.
Receiver's Education Level: The level of education can influence a person's comprehension of complex information or medical jargon.
Receiver's Past Experiences: Previous interactions, especially within healthcare settings, can impact a patient's trust, expectations, and how they perceive new information.

It's a common misconception to assume one is naturally good at communication because they understand their own thoughts and can articulate them.
However, effective communication involves more than just forming a message; it requires consideration of how that message will be received, interpreted, and the many interpersonal variables at play.
Therefore, communication is a skill that needs to be learned and practiced, rather than being purely intuitive.

The basic communication model involves several key components:

Sender: The person initiating the message (e.g., you).
Message: The information being conveyed.
Receiver: The person to whom the message is directed.
Interpersonal Variables: This is where communication becomes complex and "not basic." These variables encompass:
- Previous Relationship History: How past interactions between the sender and receiver influence the interpretation of the current message.
- Current Context: The immediate environment and situation surrounding the communication.
- Sender's Body Language: Non-verbal cues sent by the sender.
- Receiver's Interpretation of Body Language: How the receiver understands and processes the sender's non-verbal communication, which can sometimes differ from the sender's intent.
- All these factors collectively affect the message itself and its reception.
Feedback: The response or reaction from the receiver, which completes the communication loop and allows the sender to gauge whether the message was understood.