Enhancing Provider-Patient-Family Communication: Theoretical, Ethical, Clinical and Sociocultural Considerations

After completing this course, health professionals will be able to:

• Identify a key communication theory in the patient-provider-family communication, a working model of health communication (i.e. HCM), and 4 important reasons to focus on enhancing communication in patient care
• Recognize 4 common themes that impact communication, with an emphasis on potential facilitators and barriers, as well as ethical and cultural factors
• Indicate at least 6 unique communication issues in the healthcare context relevant to providers, patients and their primary caregivers and families, including cognitive/attitudinal factors, accessibility, role confusion, confidentiality issues, disclosure/informed consent, competing goals, etc
• Describe and apply an evidence-based clinical framework and ethical guideline for communication among health care staff, patients and families to promote the efficacy of and the satisfaction with communication and collaborative care