Communication in Nursing: Our Eating Habits - Case Study Example

Communication in nursing affiliation Our eating habits affect who we are and to a large extend influenceour health. The foods we eat are used to fuel our bodies, repair worn out tissues, and help fight infections as well as put our brains in the maximum functioning level. The wrong diet will cause ill health and unwanted effects of malnutrition that come in both excesses and deficiencies. For instance, many processed sugary foods cause overweight and diabetes while a lot of fats deposited in blood vessels can cause coronary heart disease and excess sodium in food causes hypertension. Vitamin deficiencies compromise the body’s immune system; same as bicarbonate and hydrogen ion electrolyte imbalance causes metabolic alkalosis or acidosis depending on the nature of disparity. In this case given in episode 4, Gillian is determined to bring to the surface the problems in the eating habit of the Henwoods. Gillian has noted that this family relies on the ready-made foods for their meals and that they do not have a source of healthy living food. The reason why this family eats junk food that is because Jane abhors cooking and anything to do with the kitchen, instead she has replaced it with the fridge where she shelves her meals. Gillian has also found out that Jane and her 12 years old daughter Holly are overweight. The root problem is feeding on processed food while at home and away from home. Considering that, obesity and overweight are known causes of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, Gillian devices a plan to communicate this critical issue. She employs both verbal and non-verbal communication methods helping the Henwoods family understand the significance of weaning from junk and processed foods for their meals. How effective the Henwoods adheres to the new eating style largely relies on Gillian’s communication skills and abilities. Verbal communication There are many ways in which a message is passed depending in the context of conversation. However, verbal language is still the basic form of communication in both formal and informal types of conversation. For instance, Gillian heavily employs verbal communication to impart knowledge in the Henwoods family. The initial step in verbal conversation is establishing a good professional rapport with her clients who in this case are the Henwoods. Right away from her introduction Gillian wins the trust and confidence of this family, this is useful in promoting a warm and comfortable environment in which the client are free to express their concerns and get their queries answered. It is during the active verbal conversation when a client is asked relevant questions regarding his or her condition. A friendly and courteous approach must be used in asking clients questions as part of history taking. Questions that are considered rude that can infringe on clients privacy or dignity are avoided as they may make the patient to give inadequate subjective information. In this case, of Henwoods family, Gillian employs a friendly approach in asking questions, this ways she has been successful in finding out the Jane’s reason of feeding on ready meals. She has also found out that Jane does not cook and she does not forbid her daughter, Holly from eating cheese, crisps, chips and many fizzy drinks as snacks while at school. Questions form part of a normal verbal conversation and are significant in deriving useful information regarding client’s condition. Listening is indispensible when trying to understand and to be understood, effective listening skills are key to a successful client-health practitioner conversation. Listening does not just help us understand the meaning of the spoken words but also in identifying emotional context of the client (BERRY, 2006). It is obvious that Gillian has observed the rules of effective listening that is why she is able to know when both Jane and Holly are astonished on realizing the amount of bad food presented before her. Active listening has several advantages to both the speaker and the listener; the speaker feels appreciated, heard and well understood. This establishes a robust and deeper link between you and your client. As Sheldon et al. (2006) expounds, listening also provides a feeling of safety for both the client and health practitioner, this allows the client to express his or her concerns, contributions feelings about the condition and plans or strategies to solve the problem at hand. Proper listening is also vital in avoiding conflicts, misunderstanding and time wastage, concentration during a conversation is achieved and exhibited by effective listening this will make the client feel valued and respected. When we listen to our clients, they get emotional relief, giving them an opportunity to share their worries and ask questions will calm them down at the same time scaling down negative feelings. It is important that the health practitioner in this case Gillian, to avoid interrupting the Henwoods when they are engaged in a conversation. The client or the speaker should be the central focus of the conversation; this will help work on concentration and credibility of information given. The health practitioner must avoid judgmental aspects in a conversation even though she does not agree with client’s ideas or reasoning. Holding criticism on a client will help the health practitioner concentrate on listening and understanding the situation at hand. Useful information is not missed out when we listen effectively. The health practitioner must also employ contextual reflection to fully understand the client and clarify information that is hazy. Reflecting on client’s words and sentences show that the practitioner is following the conversation. It also ensures that subjective information is captured in writing (Hemsley et al. 2001). At the end of a conversation, the health practitioner must summarize important points discussed with the client. This is helpful in recapturing omitted information and clarifying points that are complex to the client. The health practitioner must also merge her conversation with empathy rather than sympathy, for example, Gillian is surprised on finding out the amount of processed and ready meals the Henwoods feed on. However, she helps the Henwoods identify new and healthy food a sign. Non-verbal communication This form of communication uses wordless contexts to deliver a message and it does not necessarily require and organized event or convergence. Body language forms the bulk of nonverbal communication and it entails facial expressions, eye contact, the tonal voice, body gestures, and positions. The manner in which a health practitioner looks, listens, moves, and responds to clients tells can either encourage or discourage them depending on how the client will treat the nonverbal communication. For example, when Gillian converses with the Henwoods she can employ open body language such as maintaining eye contact and sitting at the same level as her clients with her arms uncrossed. Non-verbal communication serves to replace spoken language in situations that may be inappropriate to talk about, as if instead of Gillian saying a word she can raise her eyebrows on finding out that Jane is the one responsible for Holly’s overweight condition and eating habit. This form of communication can also be handy in expressing feelings and emotions, manage relationships concerning factors such as dominance and formalizing verbal messages. Unspoken language has its own special way of emphasizing the importance or gravity of a situation in discussion. Non-verbal communication has several elements that include Kinesics, which is related to body movements, paralinguistic that entails use of content free vocal sound formats, and Proxemics that involves individual distance and space and how it influences information delivered. Physical contact also in nonverbal communication that equally delivers certain information in most cases showing how strong someone feels (Teytelman 2002). For instance, when Gillian pats Jane on the back it may be a way of reassuring her that all is going to be fine. For effective communication, both verbal and non-verbal communications are used. It is important for the health practitioner to identify relevant communication skills and methods to use depending on the case she is handling for example unhealthy eating and obesity. Models and methods of communication Focusing on verbal, written and non-verbal communication, there are several explanations that have elaborated on the contexts for each form of communication, how it is done and for what reasons. Health care services relies on all the three forms of communication in identifying patients complains, planning for care and evaluating the interventions implemented. All health practitioners must understand that not all communication methods apply in all transactions. It is important appropriately link the communication method with the rightful model. Northouse and Northouse’s model of health communication This model elaborates on communication in health care, where health communication is the transaction involving consumers of health care and health related issues. It highlights the ways in which a relation of factors can affect the interaction in health care provision. Four important relationships exist and they include; professional-professional communication, professional-client, professional-clients significant others and client-significant others relations in communication (Radtke 2013). In this model, health interactions involve both verbal and non-verbal communication with content and special messages. The extent of a relationship in health care dealings influences the content of communication and tailoring of messages. The environment in of a health care context also affects the mode of communication and professional-client relationship. This model helps the health care practitioner to understand that various contexts significantly determine the type and effectiveness of conversation among different participants. Models of health behaviour This model explains how cognitive behaviours can influence health behaviour and results. It is grounded on the fact that individuals’ decisions about healthcare are governed by their beliefs. The choice an individual makes is also influenced by evaluation of proposed outcomes and probabilities that a given course of action will lead to a certain outcome. The Health Belief Mode; People are prompted to make health decisions basing on their perceived subjective information about possible health threats and significant behaviours. Threats are significant in determining the gravity of a certain health problem and the view of the person vulnerable to that problem. This therefore implies that suitable health communications must emphasize on both of these issues so as to influence health believes. This model also emphasizes that behaviour is fueled by intrinsic or extrinsic cues to action. This model is applicable in dealing with health problems and habits such as smoking, dieting issues and physical inactivity. With regard to personal behaviours and beliefs, health eating and regular physical exercise has been found to promote healthy living. The Theory of Planned Behaviour; Health behaviours are also affected by the core purpose and the course of action an individual takes. This theory tries to directly connect health beliefs with behaviours. Intentions are visualized as plans of action in the course of chasing certain behavioural targets. Intentions are hatched by the attitude towards certain behaviours, immanent norms that entail social values and pressures and comprehended behavioural curb and or self-efficacy. These three factors can significantly foretell behavioural intentions that are then connected to behaviour. Furthermore, this theory argues that perceived behavioural check could have a straight influencing an individual’s behaviour itself. To effectively influence health behaviour, this model demands that these three elements are fully communicated in a professional-client setting. Integration of these major factors can be used in helping a client who is trying to change his or her eating habit, for example, Gillian can employ this model in devising a suitable feeding program to the Henwoods. Theory of planned behaviour is applicable in predicting a wide range of health behaviours that include; exercise, microelements taking and contraceptive utilization. Going back to Gillian’s clients, Holly has been diagnosed with vitamin B deficiency; this theory is therefore relevant in managing this deficiency. On the other hand communication between the professional-client setting is promoted meaning that information intended to change behaviour is effectively communicated (Kourkouta & Papathanasiou 2014). Changing individual’s behaviour depends on how information is passed and received. Both the client and the health practitioner are expected to cooperate in order to achieve desired change in behaviour to enhance health living. Hargie and colleagues’ model of interpersonal communication In a normal conversation, this model considers both participants are considered as one and at the same time the senders and recipients of information. In this model, there are six vital interpersonal elements that are used to enhance communication; the person-situation setting, mediating course, objectives, responses, feedback, and perceptions. Health practioners are expected to observe these elements for effective communication with their clients; this is helpful in influencing health behaviour change. Models of persuasion; This model serves to mitigate the existing individual beliefs concerning health care, altering the strength of certain beliefs, synthesizing a new belief, influencing a purpose for a certain action and transforming actual habits. The main aim is to change the attitude of clients towards certain health issues through a convincing form of communication. In this case, persuading is used influence the Henwoods to avoid eating ready meals and a lot of junk but instead go for fresh living foods and enroll for an exercise program. The benefits of adopting new eating habits are used to outweigh the need to stick on their old dieting habit. Communication skills used in addressing conflicts or distressing situations Health care practitioners inevitably deal with situations that demand hard conversations and plausibly more than any other professionals do. Owing to this, health practitioners must possess necessary skills required to effectively communicate when faced with these difficult situations. The Northouse and Northouse came up with several means of communications in the face of conflicts. Accommodation; this method allows one party to submit to another’s viewpoint. Cooperation and passiveness are the main elements that apply in solving the conflict; one or both parties must observe these components. Avoidance; health practitioners can intentionally avoid speaking about certain issues that can cause difficult or conflict. For example, Gillian can avoid criticizing Jane for being responsible for Holly’s overweight as this can cause more stress and self-guilt. Compromising, this is close to accommodation although it involves completion as well. Both the patient and health practitioner can agree to partly shoulder the blame on a failed therapy programs for example when the patient admits being non-compliant and the practitioner accepting that he or she was unclear in communicating the instructions. In addition, deal with the issues rather than the personality; accept client’s contributions and suggestions and finally focus on large areas of agreement. Conclusion Gillian has used both verbal and non-verbal communication in addressing this issue of unhealthy eating in the Henwoods family. Gillian presents a list (non-verbal communication) of unhealthy foods, which automatically sensitizes this family of how bad their dieting is. She also notes that Holly has vitamin B deficiency by simple observation. The drastic change in the Henwoods eating behaviour is largely credited to Gillian’s relentless effort of amalgamating a good healthy diet list and communication to observe healthy lifestyle such as regular exercise. The eight weeks evaluation show that Jane and Holly have adhered to the new feeding plan and physical exercise, both Jane and Holly have lost 10.5stone and 1 stone respectively. Effective communication skills are relevant in getting the clients understand their situation and easily adopt new beliefs as they change their attitudes and behaviours toward healthy living. References BERRY, D. (2006). Health communication: theory and practice. Maidenhead, Open University Press. Hemsley, B. et al., 2001. Nursing the patient with severe communication impairment. 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