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Lecture: Effective communication in healthcare: A language and social psychology perspective

Distinguished Lecture Series, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Effective communication in healthcare: A language and social psychology perspective.

Professor Bernadette Watson delivered a lecture on “Effective communication in healthcare: A language and social psychology perspective.” to 63 participants via. ZOOM online. Professor Watson explained the importance of communication in healthcare and how effective communication improve the satisfactory of the patients.

 

Abstract

This talk will cover three key areas of my research. First, I will examine research conducted on what are the components of effective communication between healthcare provider and patient. Effective communication is critical for ensuring quality patient care and safety. Research has shown that when patients perceive they have had the opportunity to participate in the consultation and feel they are listened to, and supported, they are more satisfied with healthcare. Patient satisfaction is associated with patient adherence to treatment and improved patient outcomes. Health professionals, then, are required to be skillful communicators with their patients.

Second, I will explore examples of communication failure in healthcare that have occurred in both Australia and Hong Kong. Healthcare providers are required to communicate effectively with other health professionals from different healthcare disciplines. Communication failure is responsible for approximately 70% of patient error and patient harm and this figure is not reducing despite 20 years of health communication competence training and interventions. This failure is often interprofessional.

Third, I will discuss these findings from a theoretical language and social psychology (LSP) perspective. An LSP approach to the problem of effective communication provides a comprehensive framework for unpacking some of the issues that healthcare providers face as they seek to negotiate and manage quality patient care.