From the second a human is born into this world they are subjected to an array of ways in which one communicates with others. From an early age humans start to develop their communication skills Yale, M. E., Messinger, D. S., Cobo-Lewis, A., & Delgado, C. F. (2003) states that “Infants use vocalizations, facial expressions, and gaze direction to interact with others.” To understand communication you must know its definition and it has many but it is defined by Merriam-Webster as “the act or process of using words, sounds, signs, or behaviors to express or exchange information or to express your ideas, thoughts, feelings, etc., to someone else” (2013). When thinking of communication one usually thinks about talking or its verbal forms but 93% of communication is actually non-verbal with the action of touching being the most direct form of communication. This means that this 93% is how you are holding yourself posture wise and what emotions you may be portraying and is often times when one starts their first impressions of an individual. From talking to a friend to communicating with a patient communication have many roles in everyday life and its roles change with whatever challenges or situations that are presented. Throughout the readings readers will be informed on the various aspects of communication. These aspects are; how effective communication incorporates the basic elements of communication, how basic elements of effective communication differ from the basic rules of health care communication, how providers might encourage a reluctant consumer to communicate candidly, and how cultural differences influence communication.
Effective Communication Effective communication plays a major role in everyday life and is a vital component of every professional as well as personal relationship. Becoming an effective communicator involves learning and being effective at all aspects and elements of communication. In order to be effective at communication one must first know the basic elements of communication. The five basic elements of communication are as follows: the sender, the receiver, the message, the channel, and the feedback. The process of effective communication starts with the sender who must effectively use forms of verbal as well as non-verbal methods to clearly state the message. The next step in the process is the receiver who is an individual or a group of people who the message is directed towards. To be an effect receiver one must incorporate both verbal and non-verbal methods of listening. The third step in the process is the message which is the most important of the elements and comes in various forms. The message is important to the sender because it is his or her information and must be adjusted to the receiver in order for it to be perceived correctly. The channel is the mode of transportation the sender is using to spread his or her message to the receivers. There are many forms that can be used to spread the message like words, internet, written documents, radio and others all having their own pros and cons. The final part of becoming an effective communicator is the feedback. Feedback is the receiver’s reaction to the message. Receivers process feedback often through questions, or comments this lets the sender know how his or her message was viewed.
Difference in Health Care Communication Health care communication has a major role in the lives of those within the health care field. Kreps and Barbara Thornton defined health communication as “the way we seek, process and share health information” (1992, p. 2). Communication about health states “Health communication is shaped by many influences including personal goals, skills, cultural orientation, situational factors, and consideration of other people’s feelings.” Some differences that health care communication has with the basic rules of communication are that in health care communication it is more interpersonal. This means that whatever the