Unit 1: Communication
P3- explain factors that may influence communication and interactions in health and social
care environments
P4- explain strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to
effective communication and interpersonal interactions
M2- review strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to
effective communication and interpersonal interactions
D1- evaluate strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to
effective communication and interpersonal interactions
Examples of barriers to communication are:
Disabilities: Being physically disabled means that service users may use a
wheelchair to get around; therefore furniture and other objects may be in
their way. This can make them feel agitated and less confident in yourself
since you don’t have the same accessibility has everyone else. Health and
social care settings must be able to provide reasonable readjustments to
both employers and service users. This will create a more positive and
accessible environment for all individuals. People with learning disabilities,
however, will need a better approach in providing effective communication.
They cannot understand some things that are said or seen and may feel
confused; likely reducing their self-esteem. Mentors help people overcome
learning difficulties and nurses will need to work with them effectively in
order to communicate effectively also with the service user with a learning
disability. This may be hard for nurses as this communication barrier is one
of the hardest to overcome and they may feel a bit annoyed when repeating
what they have to say to the service user.
Noise: Loud noise can interfere with someone being able to hear your message. This is
an example of an environmental barrier to communication. Service users experiencing
loud noise will make them feel agitated and feel the need to shout in order for the other
person to hear them. It can also distract you from communication with others. For
example, if your colleagues are talking too loud, a service user and a nurse (or a nurse
and other nurse) may not be able to communicate with each other properly; which leads
them to feeling frustrated. Staff nurses are trained to minimise this barrier and how to
, Unit 1: Communication
cope with it if service users were the ones being loud.
Cultural Differences: This is when you are not able to understand the language or
gestures used due to the difference in norms from different cultures. Service users may
feel confused in what you are trying to explain and will have a very hard time
understanding. Some gestures may also be considered offensive. For example, raising
your hand can mean that something is disgusting to the observer in Thailand. However,
in the UK it is seen as a high five. Staff nurses will need to be trained in order to help
them understand different cultures while working with patients. Cultural differences as
well can affect the way you communicate effectively between your colleagues as well as
service users. Therefore all staff should be responsible and acknowledge other people’s
values and try alternative solutions in overcoming this communication barrier.
Emotions: This can be like depression or aggression. If service users and
other nurses see you depressed, you will seem unsociable and unable to talk
to anyone. If you are aggressive, you may come across as a rude and
sarcastic person which will make service users annoyed and make them feel
that you are not caring. When collaborating with your colleagues with an
aggressive attitude, you may make them feel frustrated because of your
unprofessional behaviour. Healthcare professionals are trained to not show
any signs of aggression or depression towards service user or when talking
to staff. This will create a positive environment in a health and social care
setting.
Distance and lighting: People will squint at text which is too small or too light
in a bright room, or too dark in a dark room. Service users and nurses with
eye problems will have trouble with this when trying to read information. The
text present cannot be read also if the ‘environment’ for the text to be read
in isn’t right for the service users. For example, trying to read bright colours
in a bright-lit room. Because of this, they will feel annoyed and less confident
as they cannot read the information presented. Therefore, the nurses are
told to use bright text in dark rooms, dark text in bright rooms and they
should also be an appropriate size; in order for the service users to see them
properly. The nurses should also have liable handwriting when prescribing a
patient with medicine in order for other nurses to understand and clearly see
what was prescribed.
P3- explain factors that may influence communication and interactions in health and social
care environments
P4- explain strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to
effective communication and interpersonal interactions
M2- review strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to
effective communication and interpersonal interactions
D1- evaluate strategies used in health and social care environments to overcome barriers to
effective communication and interpersonal interactions
Examples of barriers to communication are:
Disabilities: Being physically disabled means that service users may use a
wheelchair to get around; therefore furniture and other objects may be in
their way. This can make them feel agitated and less confident in yourself
since you don’t have the same accessibility has everyone else. Health and
social care settings must be able to provide reasonable readjustments to
both employers and service users. This will create a more positive and
accessible environment for all individuals. People with learning disabilities,
however, will need a better approach in providing effective communication.
They cannot understand some things that are said or seen and may feel
confused; likely reducing their self-esteem. Mentors help people overcome
learning difficulties and nurses will need to work with them effectively in
order to communicate effectively also with the service user with a learning
disability. This may be hard for nurses as this communication barrier is one
of the hardest to overcome and they may feel a bit annoyed when repeating
what they have to say to the service user.
Noise: Loud noise can interfere with someone being able to hear your message. This is
an example of an environmental barrier to communication. Service users experiencing
loud noise will make them feel agitated and feel the need to shout in order for the other
person to hear them. It can also distract you from communication with others. For
example, if your colleagues are talking too loud, a service user and a nurse (or a nurse
and other nurse) may not be able to communicate with each other properly; which leads
them to feeling frustrated. Staff nurses are trained to minimise this barrier and how to
, Unit 1: Communication
cope with it if service users were the ones being loud.
Cultural Differences: This is when you are not able to understand the language or
gestures used due to the difference in norms from different cultures. Service users may
feel confused in what you are trying to explain and will have a very hard time
understanding. Some gestures may also be considered offensive. For example, raising
your hand can mean that something is disgusting to the observer in Thailand. However,
in the UK it is seen as a high five. Staff nurses will need to be trained in order to help
them understand different cultures while working with patients. Cultural differences as
well can affect the way you communicate effectively between your colleagues as well as
service users. Therefore all staff should be responsible and acknowledge other people’s
values and try alternative solutions in overcoming this communication barrier.
Emotions: This can be like depression or aggression. If service users and
other nurses see you depressed, you will seem unsociable and unable to talk
to anyone. If you are aggressive, you may come across as a rude and
sarcastic person which will make service users annoyed and make them feel
that you are not caring. When collaborating with your colleagues with an
aggressive attitude, you may make them feel frustrated because of your
unprofessional behaviour. Healthcare professionals are trained to not show
any signs of aggression or depression towards service user or when talking
to staff. This will create a positive environment in a health and social care
setting.
Distance and lighting: People will squint at text which is too small or too light
in a bright room, or too dark in a dark room. Service users and nurses with
eye problems will have trouble with this when trying to read information. The
text present cannot be read also if the ‘environment’ for the text to be read
in isn’t right for the service users. For example, trying to read bright colours
in a bright-lit room. Because of this, they will feel annoyed and less confident
as they cannot read the information presented. Therefore, the nurses are
told to use bright text in dark rooms, dark text in bright rooms and they
should also be an appropriate size; in order for the service users to see them
properly. The nurses should also have liable handwriting when prescribing a
patient with medicine in order for other nurses to understand and clearly see
what was prescribed.
