D1 – Add a written evaluation of the strategies used in health and social care environment to overcome barriers to effective communication and interpersonal interaction
This essay will evaluate strategies used in health and social care environment to overcome barriers to effective communication and interpersonal interaction. This essay will include:
Verbal communication
Employing a befriender
Reflective listening
Translator
Braille
Hearing aid
Voice-activated
Cultural differences
Verbal communication
Using verbal communication is an excellent way to overcome barriers to effective communication. This is because using open questions can keep the conversation going. However this is not always good, because sometimes a service user may get annoyed if they get asked too many questions that require a long answer. Non-verbal communication is also effective because maintaining eye contact, smiling and nodding their head occasionally can overcome this barrier. The service user will feel comfortable and calm because they will see the profession as kind and polite. The professional will come across as a good person who will actually listen to the service user problems and not just a professional who sits there with no facial expression.
The advantage of verbal communication is that service users can use open questions. This makes the conversation going. Open question can have long answers for the service user. The advantages of non-verbal are eye contact. Maintaining eye contact can show the service user that they are concentrating and they are interested in the service user problems.
Befriender
Employing a befriender can give a lot of support to the service who is depressed. This is an excellent and effective way to overcome this barrier. This is because a befriender can be the service user ‘best friend’. As the relationship grows, the service user will have better self-esteem and confidence in themselves. The service user will rely on the befriender, they will feel loved and cared about and they can speak to them whenever they have got problems. Befriender can give excellent support and advice.
A disadvantage of having a befriender can be that they are not always reliable. Sometimes the befriender may become ill or stressed therefore not being able to communicate with the service user.
Reflective listening
Reflective listening is effective, especially when speaking to someone who is depressed or has low self-esteem. This is because if the profession is showing the service user that they are interested, then the service user will feel much happier and positive. The service user will want to carry on talking to the profession because they are showing interest in their topic, by paying full attention, kindness and respect to the service user.
A disadvantage of reflective listening is that if a service user is upset, angry, low self-esteem or depressed then they might not want to listen to anything the professional is saying, the service user may also get annoyed. Another disadvantage of reflective listening is that a profession may ask ‘’do you think you can tell me some more about what happened?’’ to the service user, then this could create a communication barrier because it can make a service user feel that their personal space or their thoughts are being ‘invaded’. It could make the service user unable to think more about the situation or what they are going to say (Anon undated).
Reflective listening effective, especially when speaking to someone who is depressed or has low self-esteem. This is because if the profession is showing the service user that they are interested, then the service user will feel much happier and positive. The service user will want to carry on talking to the profession because they are showing interest in their topic, by paying full attention, kindness and respect to the service user.
Voice-activated software
Having these technologies such as voice-activated software. Service users with