Patient Centred Care Communication

An essential component of interaction among individuals is communication. This is especially true in healthcare settings where patient safety is contingent on effective communication. Rather than the mere presentation of information to patients, communication is the receiving, giving, and understanding of information between two or more people (Levett-Jones, Oates & MacDonald-Wicks, 2014). Additionally, communication involves two forms verbal and non-verbal wherein verbal communication involves language such as words and non-verbal communication involves body language such as facial expressions, posture, gestures, and others (Glew, 2017). Moreover, rather than linear communication, feedback loops for validation must be utilised for communicating

This will be discussed in the context of patient-centred care, healthcare team communication, and documentation . One factor that influences patient safety through communicating effectively is patient-centred care. Patient-centred care is a holistic healthcare approach that acknowledges patients and their families as active participants and contributors in their care because of their knowledge and experiences regarding their condition, which applies regardless of age and healthcare setting (Institute for Patient- and Family- Centred Care, as cited in Levett-Jones, Gilligan, Outram & Horton, 2014). Furthermore, patient-centred care places value on "empathy, dignity, autonomy, respect, choice, transparency, and a desire to help individuals lead the life they want" (Levett-Jones et al., 2014, p. 15). Morever, the second standard for registered nurses emphasises the importance of person-centred care as it allows the nurse to establish a therapeutic relationship with the patient (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2016). This is because person-centred care considers the patients' needs and thoughts to be paramount in regards to their healthcare (Victorian Government Department of Human

This is because the effective communication through patient-centred care allows patients and healthcare professionals to form a therapeutic relationship resulting in better health outcomes. Moreover, patient safety is ensured when members of the healthcare team communicate effectively as this ensures quality and continuity of care. Effective communication also impacts the accuracy of documentation which is an essential component of patient safety. With the influence of communication on patient safety, further research such as longitudinal studies as well as experimental studies must be conducted to establish these findings. Furthermore, the government could take further steps to decrease the adverse effects of ineffective communication while increasing the benefits of effective communication through the implementation of rigorous standards in regards to the communication skills of healthcare