Common Barriers in Patient Interactions
Professional Communication
Why Summarizing Matters in Healthcare
Paraphrasing
What is Non-Verbal Listening
100

This barrier occurs when healthcare workers are in a hurry and do not have enough time to listen carefully.

This barrier occurs when healthcare workers are in a hurry and do not have enough time to listen carefully.

100

Professional communication should be easy for others to understand.

What is clear communication?


100

This skill helps the care team respond faster by giving a patient's chief complaint quickly.

What is summarizing?


100

The first step in paraphrasing is to do this and focus on the main point.

What is listening carefully?

100

Looking at the person you are speaking with to show attention and interest.

Eye Contact

200

Phones, monitors, and other equipment can create this type of barrier.

What are multitasking or equipment distractions?

200

Professional communication focuses on information that does this.

What is matter

200

Summarizing a procedure in 2 to 3 clear sentences creates this.

What is an accurate record?

200

When paraphrasing, you should focus on symptoms, location, timing, or what has done this.

What is changed?

200

The movements and positions of your face that show your feelings and emotions.

Facial Expressions

300

This barrier can happen when a patient and healthcare worker do not share the same language or cultural understanding.

What are language differences or cultural misunderstandings?

300

This type of communication helps patients feel safe and informed.

What is supportive communication?


300

This process involves writing down important patient information and procedures.

What is documenting?

300

Instead of repeating information word-for-word, you should do this.

What is restate it in your own words?

300

Nonverbal movements that help express thoughts, feelings, or agreement.

Nods and Gestures

400

Feeling worried or nervous about a medical situation is an example of this barrier.

What is patient anxiety or fear?


400

Clear, calm, purposeful, and supportive are four characteristics of this.

What is professional communication?

400

Repeating instructions back to a patient helps confirm this.

What is understanding?

400

Paraphrasing helps prevent these in patient care.

What are errors?

400

How a person’s voice sounds, including pitch, volume, and emotion, which helps express feelings, attitudes, and meaning when speaking.

Tone of Voice

500

When a healthcare worker makes judgments about a patient without all the facts, this barrier may occur.

What are assumptions or bias?

500

When speaking with patients, healthcare workers should communicate in this way rather than using confusing language.

What is clearly?

500

Repeat back helps prevent these that could harm patients.

What are misunderstandings?

500

When patients feel heard and understood, paraphrasing helps build this.

What is trust?

500

The way a person holds and positions their body while sitting, standing, or moving.

Posture