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Importance of Interpersonal Communication Skills in Healthcare Professions

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Importance of Interpersonal Communication sills in Healthcare Professions
Interpersonal communication is a fundamental element to any healthcare interaction. First, second and third person communication skills are primary aspects of an interaction, encompassing both verbal and non-verbal communication skills. It will be argued that rapport building and questioning are vital interpersonal skills in a healthcare context and possessing the ability to ensue a positive relationship between a healthcare professional and their client. Rapport building is an essential second person skill that encourages communication and develops a trusting relationship with the client (Ross, 2013). Questioning is another second person skill that allows for …show more content…

Throughout the video these rapport building techniques were practised aiming to engage the client and make them feel comfortable disclosing personal information by establishing trust. Active listening involves verbal rapport building skills that exert attention on the client such as using short phrases and paraphrasing back to the client to indicate understanding and using the clients name (Abbe & Brandon, 2013). Using short phrases to indicate understanding can be seen in the video at 1:05, prior to this point the client was answering a question, then the professional simply nods and utters okay, to indicate to the client that their message was understood; therefore allowing the conversation to continue. Mimicry and contrast are skills whereby the professional will mimic the behaviour the client is exhibiting or compliment the behaviour to generate a specific response (Abbe & Brandon, 2013). Mimicry was more predominant than contrast as it was more appropriate to match the behaviour of the client as the topic was sensitive and making them confortable was essential as it was a first time interaction. Self-disclosure and establishing common ground can also be effective rapport building skills as they allow a personal relationship to form between the two individuals (Abbe & Brandon, 2013). However, neither of these skills are necessary in the context of the video as the interview is other oriented, focusing solely on the needs of the client. Contact and persistence refer

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