Health Communication for Health Care Professionals

Based on the author's philosophy that communication is a clinical skill necessary for effective healthcare delivery, this comprehensive text discusses the theories and skills needed by all healthcare professionals. As the only text written specifically for nursing, medical, physical therapy, pharmacy, dental, physician assistant and optometrist students. It includes discussion of case studies to provide a rich and multi-perspective learning experience for optimal knowledge in effective health communication. The author emphasises the importance of developing and maintaining successful relationships with patients, peers and colleagues as the foundation for effective healthcare outcomes. With an emphasis on interactive learning, the text uses communication theories to analyse verbal and non-verbal behaviours in different healthcare contexts and assess which are more effective and why. Summaries at the end of each chapter discuss health communication outcomes. Chapters cover interpersonal communication, intercultural communication, organisational communication, team communication, malpractice, palliative care, end-of-life communication and many other topics.