Interpersonal Communication Within a Health Environment

When someone thinks about Interpersonal Communication within a Health Environment perhaps the concept of Harmony is reflected on their thoughts, that would mean a perfect scenario.

Health is a general concept, which defines the state or capability of an autonomous entity given a specific moment on time and can have a good or a bad connotation.

The concept has a qualitative nature and several variables need to be pay attention to. It is uneasy to describe or transcript these variables into simple units.

Human health is treated in private and public hospitals, clinics and health centres. These centres play a key role and good communication skills are a must for staff within healthcare responsibilities although I believe that everyone plays the role of a doctor, a nurse or a baby-sitter sometimes.

Personally, I enjoy being invited in kid's parties with family & friend's meeting. Showing affection, playing with them and experiencing their vitality and joy are fantastic feelings which have tremendous positive effects.

Some Health Professionals have to the task of evaluating individual's health. They are routinely checking parameters to determine our general health.

When a Psychologist is working with a patient, he will also estimate his well-being by interacting with him. She will ask questions, observe and run tests...

There are also skilled volunteers taking care of underprivileged population. Sometimes they are working in regions with terrible environmental conditions and human conflicts, helping the much needed. Their involvement is admirable. They need good preparation to overcome adversities.

Unfortunately, other people are in not very advantageous position when it comes to bad health caused by poor personal decisions.

Due to the high demand of time and effort that our responsibilities imply, significant numbers of people find themselves with difficulties to separate and assimilate the different roles they represent in society, causing problems as we all need free time to enjoy.

This lack of time can causes stress which in the long term can mean a loose of health.

From the Occupational Health perspective, I would like to point out the idea that some amount of stress is necessary for an individual's well being.

Studies to determine stress levels in people are widely used by Workplace Healthcare Professionals and Recruitment and Management Staff deciding about the fitness level of an employee to work. Being healthy at work is very important.

You can't work without being in a healthy state, but working can damage your health and even kill you. Everyday there are lots of work related accidents and illnesses announced in news which depict consternating tragedies. New work conflicts occur frequently between management and work force, it is a very complicated subject that sometimes adjusted at the tribunals.

Generally speaking, when you are talking to someone and perceive that he is uncomfortable, it is very important to establish adequate communication channels in order to avoid confrontation and establish good rapport, needed not to worsen a dangerous situation. Sometimes, rather than to talk is preferable to use body language and signs, the main forms of non-verbal communication.

Although everyone has got different observation skills, in a tense situation it is important to keep a safe distance, maintain eye contact and remain calm.

Let's put the case of a young accountant that wakes up a Thursday to go to work feeling really ill. He is a mature individual, with a responsible job but that morning he is not well on his foot and thinks about what is best to do.

He concludes he has three possible solutions. His first thought is to take a drug, some sort of medication like an aspirin, tablets They are accessible and maybe hit the spot and recover him.

The second option he considers is to call his manager and try to negotiate a non paid day off, telling him how sick he feels, and that he will do overtime to recover the lost days as soon as he feels well again.

The third option is a situation in which he decides to let time pass and wait for an improvement. He will use his self-healing skills and will try to recover by nature.

Given the options which one would you choose?

Having myself had similar experiences in the past; I would try first option 3. It is important to learn self-healing skills and also first aid because emergencies are never expected.

Interpersonal Communication Attitudes

Certain level of stress is part of a healthy existence. It is different in every person. A good attitude and adequate training can help your daily life by: gaining control over your decisions, helping you to keep a positive attitude and finally to enjoy the naturally resulting benefits of it. For this, several factors can be highlighted:

- Age: Children and Teenagers are considered to be by some authors the group of population under more stress. I do partially agree with the opinion, based in the physical and psychological growing that young adults go through, but perhaps the affirmation does not give enough consideration to the fact that most of children and teenagers have means of enjoying their lives by associating themselves. They are though a succulent target of the media and more subjected to their influence, which in some case could be influencing negatively .

Geographical Location:

In my opinion the environment where you live plays a vital role on your quality of life. Key variables are: public facilities, recreational areas, parks and open spaces. In spite of arising difficulties, the best way for overcoming this obstacles starts with oneself.

Nutritional and Personal habits:

The quality and variety of the food we eat on our diet plays a very important role helping us in maintaining a good health. What we put in our systems determines our energy levels.

Social and Economical variables:

Another important source of stress can be found in our own close relationships. They are not easy sometimes. For example, when discussing delicate subjects like political news or negotiating a collective agreement. Usually different points of view arise and I think is sound advice to remember that sometimes in society is better to have good ears rather than a sharp tongue. They are both closely linked. To be able to change and keep an eye for detail with an open mind are in my opinion very important communication skills.

Values

In my list of personal values, health and love are a priority . Taking care of my eating and practice sport in my free time helps keeping me healthy. Although sometimes I slow down a and think, really immersed myself down into negatives thoughts as a result of desperation, a very human feeling.

A balanced healthy life implies basic rights and obligations, which should be available to everyone. These way we would be able to keep contemplating the possibility of imaging the world as a these big melting pot that actually is, contributing at the same time with the right ingredients and cooperating to make it a better place for future generations. Human dignity should be a universal right, and then things would improve.

Let's suppose you are on a High street or in a shopping centre or even walking with your friend on a park. There are senior citizens and people with mobility problems. They are likely to be over sensible, therefore it is very important to pay good attention in case they need help and to be polite and cooperate helping them if you have an opportunity. These are very important qualities that show personal integrity and coherence.

Illness occurs when health is lost and every patient needs the right treatment. As an example, there are some strategies like alternative employment in rural areas for city homeless or drug addict's rehabilitation centres.

Back to: Health Essays

All sorts of therapies are available.

The ability to choose the right one for the right patient determines how skilled is a healthcare professional.

In the special cases shown it can usually happen that the rehabilitated patient will offer themselves to help, as they have experienced this coming back to life. Their reasons to help vary but they have a strong will to help people that is going trough a personal inferno in which they have a very valuable experience to transmit.

At the same time, there is a need to asking for donations to fund healthcare initiatives regardless of not to see social improvements loose hope. Regular campaigns and meetings need to be held to show results and keep reinforcing illness prevention which will always be better than remediation.

Bibliography

- Robert M. Youngson.(1999).Collins Dictionary Medicine. Harper Collins Publishers. - Emma Mitchell.(2002). Your body energy.. DBP. Mitchell Beazley. Duncan Baird Publishers.

-Allen Carr.(1994-1995) The easy way method to stop smoking. Penguin Health/Medicine.

- Pérez Quintana, Félix Fuente. (ORP 2004). Desarrollo y Propiedades Psicométricas de una escala de Fatiga Laboral.

- García Cebrian (et / al). Condiciones de trabajo del personal de enfermería del centre de salud de Teguise (Canarias-Saín) en la tarea de extracción periférica de sangre.

Please note: The above essays and dissertations were written by students and then submitted to us to display and help others. Thanks to all the students who have submitted their work to us.

More Health Essays...

Do you need some more research material? We have hundreds of free essays available in our online resource library - essays not just on health but from all the major subject areas...

Please note: The above essays and dissertations were written by students and then submitted to us to display and help others. Thanks to all the students who have submitted their work to us.