Communication Skills for Radiographer - Essay Example

? Good Communication Skills are Essential for Radiographer Imaging a Range of Patients in Different Situations s Name: City/State: Date Submitted: Outline I. Introduction II. Communication with Different Patients in Radiography Imaging a) Old People b) Children c) Language Barrier d) Deaf e) Blind f) Dementia III. Conclusion Introduction Radiographers in the contemporary society are not only taught to offer different diagnose on an injury or illness and perform medical procedures to produce required results, but also how to communicate effectively with patients from diverse ethnic backgrounds and age groups. The future of radiology is directed towards custom services for patients through excellent communication skills portrayed by radiographers in the medical profession. Radiology field not only requires competent and confident radiographers, but also passionate and sensitive physicians who will care for their patient’s concerns by providing medical information about diagnosis (Gunderman, 2001, p. 41). Radiology educators in the modern society advocate for communication skills, interpersonal relationships and competency in their field of study that will result to an improved profession. Part of radiology is detecting lesions, injuries and diseases, performing procedures and carrying out different diagnosis on a single illness or injury. Communication skills are being incorporated in this profession to achieve both personal and career goals in satisfying client’s needs and improving radiology skills. Quality of communication and interpersonal skills must correspond to patients’ satisfaction rather than providing technical medically competent care. Poor communication between patients and radiographers leads to litigation and adverse outcomes. In radiography department, a large percentage of depositions indicate flawed patient-physician communication. Developing communication skills in radiology can be innate or acquired. Some physicians are kind and respect their patients because they understand and empathize with their clients. Some radiographers learn how to communicate effectively with patients during their residency in medical school. Whichever way communication skills are acquired, the physicians need to improve their interpersonal relationships with their clients to improve the future of radiology, patient satisfaction and achieve their career goals. Communication with Different Patients in Radiography Imaging a. Old Patients During Radiography Imaging Radiographers communicate with old patients in a distinctive manner that requires patience and understanding. Old patients have various problems such as loss of memory, hearing problems and are inclined to depression. Imaging procedures require patients to hold breath, lie in certain positions and relax. Old patients lack patience and trust in undergoing such procedures, but the radiologist must gain their patient’s trust by respecting and treating them with compassion (Berlin, 2007, p. 1276). Radiographers explain to old patients what the image represents and the implications of the results in medicals terms. Old patients do not understand most hard medical terms and lose focus with long medical lectures about the diagnosis in the radiography images. As a radiographer tending an old patient, one should consider forming an emotional connection with the patient. Supporting and caring for the patient will ease tension and create interest. The first step in radiographic imaging report if summarizing the medical information into intelligible words that the old patient will understand. The radiographer should continue by repeating the imaging procedure or imaging results to create an understanding of the medical condition of the old patient. Old people are susceptible to dementia, which implies that they will tend to forget easily and have cases of mood swings and personality disorders. Radiologic imaging procedure will require patience and repetition to avoid wrong images during poor patient position or forgetfulness. The next step in reporting the diagnostics imaging is checking whether the patient has understood the health problem. This is done by checking the patient’s gestures and facial expression. Old patients often feel uncomfortable while answering detailed questions about their understanding of the imaging procedure and report. The task of the radiographer is to avoid inappropriate questions by asking closed and sincere questions to judge if the patient welcomes the topic of discussion. Non-verbal communications also make the patients to relax and feel comfortable. The radiographer should consider practicing empathy in front of old patients while explaining the imaging reports to show the patient that the radiographer understands the experience of the patient (Berlin, 2003, p. 380). Old people often have physical injuries caused by walking, falling or accidents. An example of an injury that many old patients experience is hip dislocation while walking. A radiologist should explain to the old patient that while he or she was walking, one of the hips was dislocated; thus, the extreme pain in the hip region. This is an unpretentious and clear explanation of what might appear in the diagnostic imaging report. b. Children Patients During Radiography Imaging Communicating with children during diagnostic imaging procedures and report can be a difficult task for radiographers who lack communication skills (Purvis, 2009). An example of poor communication is when a radiologist told the parent of a patient child that the imaging procedure could lead to fatal risks in the child’s health. The child was anxious and tensed during the imaging process, hence producing poor radiographic images. Children are extremely sensitive in health matters, and a wrong communication from their physicians could lead to tension, anxiety and fear. The first step when communicating with children who are patients is by becoming an ally rather than a physician doing his or her job. Children are inclined to jokes, soft words and emotional support (Purvis, 2009). The radiologist should request the child to assume the appropriate position for the imaging procedure while using the phrase “taking a picture”. The radiographer with the imaging report should whisper to the patient in an intention of attraction the child’s attention. Children display anxiety and fear in the radiology department because they are afraid of the results. Whispering to the child will attract his or her attention in listening to the words and forgetting their anxiety, fear and tension. Whispering will create a communication strategy that will hold the child’s attention to the radiographer (Purvis, 2009). The second step in communication is avoidance of facial expression while reading the radiographic imagery report. Children like to engage in dangerous games such as tree climbing. A child who has a broken leg will experience intense pain, but the radiologists will provide a diagnostic imaging that shows the type of fracture. The image should be explained in straight-forward terms to show the child that falling from the tree caused the injury. Reporting the impressions of the imaging reports to the patient is using a puppet, a nurse, a sibling or a parent as a communication intercessor. Children feel comfortable when a parent or a sibling is the communication intermediary because of the family connection. The radiographer should use soft words while explaining to the patient the contents of the diagnostic imaging report. A young patient who has a medical condition will respond positively to words such as appearance in place of deformity and finding in place of medical problem (Gunderman, 2001, p. 42). The radiographic image should be considered a picture to attract the interest of the young patient in discovering the contents of his or her picture (Purvis, 2009). Radiologists come into contact with many patients who have similar conditions such as heart disease, cancer, deformities and head traumas. The radiographer should assure the young patient that the impression in the radiology image is a common condition in many children that are the patient’s age. c. Language Barrier Patients During Radiography Imaging Patients that do not speak the same language as the radiographer will require translators to convey the message on the radiologic imaging procedure and report. An example of a language barrier in the radiology department in the U.K is patients who are immigrants. Many people seek asylum in the U.K because of civil unrest and poor conditions in their native countries. The immigrants cross the U.K border with little or lack of knowledge in U.K culture including the language. Immigrants that can understand few English words also need a translator. An interpreter is also needed during the imaging process to tell the patient who to position himself or herself. A radiologist reporting the radiologic imaging to an immigrant will convey the impression of the report in full detail. While communicating to the patient who does not understand English, the radiologist will keep eye contact with the patient rather than the translator. This creates a sense of patient-physician trust that builds a relationship based on care and support. The radiologist will also use extremely clear terms that can be translated for understanding. Some English medical terms cannot be translated into any language. Communication with the patient is not only verbal but also emotional and physical (Brody et al., 2007, p. 1027). The radiologist will read the image and try to touch the areas in the patient’s body that are indicated in the imaging report. The radiologist should try to request the immigrant patient to ask questions to advance his or her understanding of the health problem. For example, a patient that has lung cancer due to years of smoking cigarettes should receive a clear explanation of the condition and its implications. The radiologist through the translator will show the patient the image of the affected lung on the radiologic image. Cancer has medical terms that can confuse the patient especially in cases of a language barrier, but virtuous translation will simplify the reporting of diagnostic images. d. Deaf Patients During Radiography Imaging People with disabilities require particular care and support in the radiology department. Deaf patients respond slowly to the number of words spoken per minute as compared to other patients who are not deaf (Slaven, 2003, p. 39). An example of lack of proper communication with deaf patients during diagnostic imaging report is when radiologists overestimate the number of words that deaf patients lip-read. Deaf people function by either reading lips or hearing aids. Radiologists either provide hearing aids or learn to speak slowly using extremely ordinary medical terms. The first step while communicating with a deaf patient that is in a waiting room is through gestures. This indicates that radiologist requires the patient for diagnostic report. Deaf patients that are accompanied by parents or friends ease communication. Family members that are present ease tension and anxiety in the deaf patient. The people accompanying the deaf patient also understand the mode of communication and the patient’s personality in handling stressful situations such as illness. The radiologist will provide the radiologic imaging report and explain using ordinary English. The percentage of words that the radiologist uses in communication should be lower than that of other patients who are not deaf (Middleton, 2010, p. 30). A person that is specialized in sign language can improve the level of communication while reporting the impressions of the radiologic imaging. Radiologists treat deaf patients with care and support that they need to establish compassion and trust. Radiologists use visual signals for imaging procedures that require breath holding in deaf patients. Medical practitioners must get the consent of patients before taking imaging procedures, but the case of deaf patients requires exceptional care to avoid uninformed consent (Lee, 2003, p. 439). Communicating with a deaf patient requires the radiologist to seek the patient’s attention before talking. The physician should also ensure that the deaf patient knows the topic of discussion. The best way to communicate with a deaf patient during imaging report is by facing the patient. Deaf patients focus on the movement of lips, which means that the radiologist should avoid exaggerating the movement of the mouth while reporting the contents of the radiologic image. The radiologist should use body language, mime or gesture while explaining the imaging procedure to the deaf patient. Some deaf patients can read words that are written (Channon & Davies, 2004, p. 100). A radiologist will provide effective communication by writing instructions of how the imaging procedure should be handled. Deaf patients that read lips require a substantial lighting environment. The radiology department should create departments that incorporate the efforts of the disabled by providing a lighting system that favors deaf patients. The patients will read the lips and body language of their radiologists who should stand away from the source of light or the window. During the imaging procedure, the radiologist should be visible when speaking so that the deaf patient will read the lips and understand. e. Blind Patients During Radiography Imaging Imaging bling patients can be hectic if the communication is poor. Blind patients respond to sound rather than light and faces, which means that the radiology imaging room should be away from background noise in the health facility. The most notable aspect communication with a blind patient is through touching and voice. During the imaging procedure, the radiologist should explain to the blind patient the steps that are in the procedure. The radiologist will provide detailed information about the purpose of the imaging process and the positions required to successfully complete the procedure. The voice of the radiologist will guide the patient during the imaging procedure. After the imaging, the patient will require to wait for the results of the examination. Due to the patient’s blindness, he or she will not see the diagnostic imaging report, which means that the radiologist will explain using words (Hillman, 2006, p. 309). Explaining the image using words will be difficult but the impressions of the image will be easy. If a blind patient has cancer, the radiologist will explain that traces of cancer cells are present in the radiologic image. The next step in explaining the effects of cancer cells in the body and possible treatments. Blind patients do not need an explanation of the structure of the cancer cells because most of them are born blind. Patients who become blind because of diseases, accidents or aging need to know the structure and form of cancer cells. Caring for the blind is through directing their movements in and out of rooms. Physicians should talk to blind patients in a close range rather than shout from a distance. Conclusion Communication skills in the radiology imaging of patients such as old people, children, the blind, deaf and people suffering dementia is crucial in achieving required results. Radiologists develop communication skills to treat patients with care, respect, honesty and compassion in their service towards the community. Radiology imaging of children requires a form of care that fosters a relation between the caregiver and the patient that is based on trust. Imaging older citizens of the society requires patience and care to improve the health standards of the patients and advance development of radiology in future. Language barrier in radiology imaging and report can be solved by a competent translator or interpreter to achieve the expected results of the examinations. Communication skills are essential in radiology to cater for the needs of the patients and also improve the imaging procedures and reports in future. References Berlin, L., 2007. Communicating Results of All Radiologic Examinations Directly To Patients: Has the Time Come? AJR,189, 1275-1282. Berlin, L., 2003. Duty to Directly Communicate Radiologic Abnormalities: Has The Pendulum Swung Too Far? AJR, 181, 375-381. Brody, D. S., et al., 2007. The Relationship between Patients’ Satisfaction with their Physicians and Perception about Intervention they Devised and Received. Med Care; 27,1027-1035. Channon, B. T. & Davies, C. M., 2004. Journal of Diagnostic Radiography and Imaging Journal of Diagnostic Radiography and Imaging. Deaf patients in the medical imaging department – a qualitative study, 5(2), p. 99-106 Gunderman,R. B., 2001. Patient Communication: What to Teach Radiology Residents. Indiana University School of Medicine Radiology Journal, 177, p. 41-43. Hillman, B. J., 2006. Outcomes Research and CostEffectiveness Analysis for Diagnostic Imaging. Radiology, 193, 307-310. Lee, J. M., 2003. Screening and Informed Consent. English J Med, 328, 438-440. Middleton, A., 2010.Working with Deaf People: A Handbook for Healthcare Professionals.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Purvis,J. M., 2009. The Challenge of Communicating with Pediatric Patients. Tips of Talking With Children, [e-journal]. Available through: http://www.aaos.org/news/aaosnow/feb09/clinical5.asp Slaven, A., 2003. Communication and the Hearing-Impaired Patient.Nursing Standards,18, 39-41. Read More