PR 6031 – Week 6 Group 11 – Mairéad McCabe, Evan O’Sullivan, Sophie O’Reilly, Marnie Horan,

Sophie Molloy, Paul O’Keefe, Oisín O’Ceallaigh

Rolfe model of reflection:

Topic: Inclusive Communication

What?

Inclusive communication – this means sharing information in a way that everybody can understand.
Includes making sure that us as practitioners recognise that everyone understands and express
themselves in different ways. Inclusive communication includes written & online information,
telephone, and face to face.

So what?

Effective inclusive communication coincides with quality in healthcare and aids in ensuring a high-
quality system is being implemented. Inclusive communication also helps in ensuring communication
barriers are reduced and ensure that all service users can access the services and information they
need. This helps them to understand their health conditions, treatment options and can provide
their own input on the situation.

Ensures equality and inclusivity across different socioeconomic backgrounds and cultural
backgrounds. Helps build trust between the service users and the healthcare system and
practitioners.

Helps ensure all decisions made by service users are informed decisions due to information being
widely accessible.

Now what?

To ensure inclusive communication we as practitioners will use the six principles of inclusive
communication.

Make all information accessible – this includes not limiting information to online as this is not
accessible to may elderly service users and people with low computer literacy skills.

Use simple language when communicated information to patients – don’t use jargon.

Use reflective listening when engaging with service users, allow them to do a lot of the talking and
reiterate back to them points they may have mentioned so they know you’re taking in what they’re
saying.

For children and people with cognitive impairments, using more simple methods of communication
such as visual aids may be more effective.

Make use of all the different elements that contribute to effective communication:

- Technology
- Eye contact
- Reflective listening
- Sign language
- Gentle tone of voice
- Don’t interrupt
Also make sure that we understand the role of your fellow health care practitioners such as
occupational therapists, dieticians, physiotherapists, speech, and language therapists so that you can
all work in collaboration to achieve the same goal / outcome for a patient.

References: