Therapeutic Communication & Health Education: Nonverbal Communication in Healthcare

Nonverbal Communication in Healthcare

• 65-90% of communication is generally accepted to be nonverbal.

Forms of Nonverbal Communication

• Facial expressions are a form of nonverbal communication discussed in the text.

Importance of Nonverbal Communication

• It is essential for healthcare professionals to understand nonverbal communication to provide empathetic and personalized care.
• Nonverbal behaviors convey emotions, attitudes, and intentions that words alone often do not convey.

Confirming Nonverbal Behavior

• A healthcare professional can confirm their interpretation of a patient's nonverbal behavior by asking open-ended questions.
• Reflecting back what they have heard is NOT a method to confirm nonverbal behavior.

Tone of Voice

• 38% of communication involves the tone of voice.

Nonverbal Communication in Stressful Situations

• Nonverbal communication becomes more significant in stressful situations because verbal communication can be impaired.

Patient Behavior

• A patient's avoidance behavior may convey significant meaning.

Interpreting Nonverbal Behaviors

• The text cautions about interpreting nonverbal behaviors without considering cultural differences and individual variations.
• It is essential for healthcare professionals to observe and interpret nonverbal behaviors correctly to provide personalized care.

Cultural Diversity

• Being aware of cultural differences in nonverbal communication is crucial, especially in culturally diverse settings.

Verbal and Nonverbal Messages

• Nonverbal messages interact with verbal messages to convey a unified message.

Healthcare Professionals' Nonverbal Messages

• The text emphasizes that healthcare professionals transmit nonverbal messages through their behavior, which can affect patient outcomes.

Patient Benefits

• If a patient's nonverbal behaviors convey fear or anxiety, they could benefit from emotional support and reassurance.

Consequences of Ignoring Nonverbal Behaviors

• If healthcare professionals fail to observe and interpret nonverbal behaviors correctly, they may lose important information about the patient's needs and concerns.

Congruent Messages

• Congruency between verbal and nonverbal messages leads to more effective communication and builds trust.