Psychologists' Findings on Practitioner-Patient Interpersonal Skills
TITLE
Describe what psychologists have discovered about practitioner and patient interpersonal skills (non💥verbal communications and verbal communications).
ESSAY
Title: Understanding Practitioner and Patient Interpersonal Skills in Psychology
Introduction
Practitioner and patient interpersonal skills play a vital role in the effectiveness of healthcare interactions. In this essay, we will explore the findings of psychologists regarding non💥verbal and verbal communications between practitioners and patients.
Non💥verbal Communication (McKinstry and Wang, 1991)
McKinstry and Wang conducted a study where patients were shown photographs of doctors in different attire styles and asked to choose which doctor they would be happiest to see for the first time. The study revealed that 28% of patients expressed unhappiness about consulting doctors dressed informally. Patients often associated the way a doctor dresses with their confidence in the doctor's abilities. For example, a male doctor in a suit and tie was most preferred, along with a female doctor in a white coat.
Verbal Communication – McKinlay (1975)
In a study by McKinlay, lower💥class individuals and under💥users of maternity services in Aberdeen, Scotland were interviewed about the words used by practitioners during healthcare interactions. The findings showed that those who were less frequent users of maternity services had a lower level of understanding of the words used by practitioners. Interestingly, women often had a better understanding of the words than what practitioners anticipated.
Verbal Communication – Ley (1988)
Ley's research focused on patients' retention of practitioner advice, which was linked to various factors such as the order, amount, and perceived importance of information shared, as well as patient characteristics like age, anxiety level, and medical knowledge. Ley proposed that practitioners should use simple language, provide key information first, offer concrete and specific advice categorized by diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, etc., and repeat key points while summarizing the information at the end of the consultation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, psychologists have shed light on the importance of practitioner and patient interpersonal skills, emphasizing both non💥verbal and verbal communication cues. Understanding how attire choices impact patient perceptions, ensuring clear and understandable language during interactions, and optimizing information delivery are crucial aspects of effective practitioner💥patient communication. By incorporating these findings into healthcare practices, practitioners can enhance patient experiences and outcomes.
SUBJECT
PSYCHOLOGY
LEVEL
A level and AS level
NOTES
🌟Psychologists' Discoveries on Practitioner and Patient Interpersonal Skills🌟
💥 🌟Non💥verbal Communication🌟(McKinstry and Wang, 1991): Patients were asked to evaluate doctors based on photographs showing different styles of attire. The majority believed that a doctor's appearance, particularly their choice of clothing, is significant. Patients tended to prefer doctors who were more formally dressed, such as a male doctor in a suit and tie or a female doctor in a white coat. This study indicates that non💥verbal cues, such as attire, can influence patient perceptions and confidence in their doctors.
💥 🌟Verbal Communication🌟(McKinlay, 1975): A study in Aberdeen, Scotland, focused on the words used by practitioners when interacting with lower💥class and under💥utilizing maternity services patients. It was found that patients who did not frequently use maternity services had a lower level of understanding of certain words used by practitioners. Interestingly, the women often understood the words better than expected by the practitioners, highlighting the importance of clear and effective verbal communication between practitioners and patients.
💥 🌟Verbal Communication🌟(Ley, 1988): Research by Ley explored the impact of various factors on patients' retention of practitioner advice. Factors such as the order, amount, nature, and perceived importance of information, as well as patient characteristics like age, anxiety levels, and medical knowledge, were found to influence patients' retention of advice. Ley suggested that practitioners should use simple language, present key information first, provide specific advice categorized into diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, etc., and repeat key points while summarizing the information at the end of the consultation. This highlights the importance of effective verbal communication strategies in ensuring patients understand and remember vital information provided by practitioners.