Open AccessEnhancing intergroup communication in healthcare: The role of the receiver
Author(s) -
Melanie Barlow
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
focus on health professional education a multi-professional journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2204-7662
DOI - 10.11157/fohpe.v22i3.523
Subject(s) - harm , health care , hierarchy , health professionals , power (physics) , public relations , psychology , internet privacy , social psychology , computer science , political science , law , physics , quantum mechanics
This paper explores how the communication behaviour of another can have significant personal and professional impact and, in turn, put others in harm’s way. In healthcare, in a continual attempt to address known barriers to communication, such as fear, hierarchy and power differentials, significant human and financial resources are deployed to develop and teach new and existing methods of how to speak up. Despite the effort, speaking up remains difficult, and as a result, patients are still being harmed. The author’s personal story highlights the fact that maybe, until now, we have not been addressing the whole issue.