INTRODUCTION
Thesis: Communication accommodation theory (CAT), speech codes theory and Peplau’s interpersonal theory provide three distinct means by which greater communication can be accomplished within health care contexts.
I. COMMUNICATION ACCOMMODATION THEORY (CAT)
modifying communication behavior to resemble behaviors of partners in international interactions
CAT in health care communication
allows practitioners to behave in a more complementary manner to patients, emphasizes patient-as-central focus and facilitates more productive interpersonal dialogue
Research indicates health professionals using CAT more attentive to emotional needs of patients, used greater emotional expression and offered more nurturing discourse (Watson & Gallois, 2009).
II. SPEECH CODES THEORY
The way groups communicate according to communal factors
Relates to age, race, society, gender, language, etc.
Speech code: “a historically enacted socially constructed system of terms, meanings, premises and rules, pertaining to communicative conduct” (Griffin, 2008).
Speech codes in healthcare communication
Research currently limited on speech code effectiveness in this context (Bylund, Peterson & Cameron, 2012).
Health care settings must contend with reaching out to patients with different speech codes
Practitioners learning how to accommodate speech codes presents ongoing challenge; CAT may provide solution
III. PEPLAU’S INTERPERSONAL THEORY
Created by Hildegard Peplau, developed within context of nursing practice (Peplau, 1952).
Nursing portrayed as therapeutic, interpersonal process, with education and social contexts (Peplau 1952).
Emphasizes connectedness between nurse and patient as critical to health (Ward et al., 2012).
CONCLUSION
CAT, speech codes theory, and Peplau’s theories of interpersonal nursing all contribute to a greater focus of healthcare practitioners on being effective communicators as an indicator of greater health.
References
Bylund, C.L., Peterson, E.B., & Cameron, K.A. (2012). A practitioner’s guide to interpersonal
communication theory: An overview and exploration of selected theories. Patient Educ Couns 87(3): 261-267.
D’agostino, T.A., & Bylund, C.L. (2014). Nonverbal accommodation in health care
communication. Health Communication 29: 562-573.
Griffin, E. (2008). A First Look at Communication Theory (7th ed.). New York, NY: Mcgraw-
Hill.
Peplau, H. E. (1952). Interpersonal relations in nursing. AJN The American Journal of
Nursing, 52(6), 765.
Ward, J., Cody, J., Schaal, M., & Hojat, M. (2012). The empathy enigma: an empirical study of
decline in empathy among undergraduate nursing students. Journal of Professional Nursing, 28(1), 34-40.
Watson, B., & Gallois, C. (1998). Nurturing communication by health professionals toward
patients: a communication accommodation theory approach. Health Communication 10(4): 343-355.
