To work effectively with others is highly important in healthcare, and a method that I believe this can be achieved is through communicating effectively (1). I have always felt that I am a chatty and approachable individual but having the confidence and ability to transfer these skills into healthcare was going to be a new challenge. Placements were the first opportunity to really test my ability to communicate with a range of healthcare professionals and patients, where I received some positive feedback (See – Placement 3 Feedback and Placement 4 Feedback), which reported  that I was effective at communicating with staff and patients alike, and that I was able to build good working relationships and build strong therapeutic alliance with patients, something that is important for patient-outcomes (2). Communicating effectively is a component I continuously try to progress in a manner of ways, I remember a patient that I saw on my second placement in a community setting that I believed required further input from occupational therapy, therefore, I took it upon myself to liaise with them to discuss problems lists and a referral for occupational therapy to see them (See – Skills Journal: Communication), in addition to working on my ability to communicate effectively through referrals to other healthcare professionals through the use of electronic note writing and electronic referrals (See – Skills Journal: Communication), this is something that I shall continue to take forward, ensuring I use a range of communication strategies to make sure patients get the most effective care. I believe this has demonstrated an ability to facilitate the sharing of information, advice and ideas with a range of people, using a variety of verbal, written and electronically based modalities (3).

Throughout the course, I have had the opportunity to test my communication in an academic setting, we had to complete a debate day (See – Debate Day) in-front of the class on a given topic to persuade them to vote in favour of our argument, I believe this highlights and reinforces an ability to again facilitate the sharing of information, advice and ideas with a range of people, using a variety of verbal and non-verbal methods (3). To be able to communicate effectively (4), it is important to be able to modify communication to meet individual preferences and needs (3). This was something I had to evidence within a piece of academic work where we had a case study for an individual with a condition, and had to demonstrate an ability to consider a wide range of communication components such as; font, colour, vision, individual preferences and  needs in order to be most effective for delivering a patient resource in relation to evidence (See – SE705 Essay: Patient Case Study – Highlighted in Yellow) (3). The end result of this patient resource can be evidenced in Patient Leaflet which also demonstrates an ability to share information, advice and ideas to an individual using a written leaflet with photos, highlighting a variety of media components (3). My ability to modify communication to meet individuals’ preferences and needs was tested during a recent presentation which was meant to be completed face to face, however, due to the recent Coronavirus outbreak, face to face assignments had to be changed to meet Covid-19 guidelines. This resulted in a video recording via Zoom with my presentation slides (See – Business Case PowerPoint Presentation Video) which was something I had no prior experience in, therefore, I believe this adequately highlights an ability modify my communication to meet individuals’ preferences and needs (3). 

During my fourth placement I was introduced to PhysioLine, I had no prior experience on using this method of communicating with patients to deliver an effective subjective history and in some cases, manage them over the phone. The more PhyioLine calls I completed the more confident and effective I become at using this to understand patient symptoms and be able to educate them to effectively self-manage, in conjunction with PhysiTrack, which was a home exercise generating tool in order to give patients clear ideas of how to complete exercises. The literature behind this has suggested this can be effective for patient management, in addition to reducing stress on service resources (5,6), which I reflected on to better understand the effectiveness of this modality for patients (See – Reflection: Telehealth and Mobile Technology). The use of this has introduced me to new methods of patient management and as a result, has allowed me to engage with technology, particularly the effective and efficient use of information and communication technology domain of the CSP Framework (3). 

The last 2 years have been an eye opening learning curve,  teaching me valuable skills going forward within my career. Communication is not a one size fits all concept, but rather something that needs to be adapted on a person to person basis, this may be the non-verbal and verbal communicative techniques I adopt with a patient, the written information or picture forms of communication I use with a patient, to liaising with other healthcare professionals during MDT meetings or electronic referrals to other areas of healthcare and specialities. These all have a pivotal role in different settings which when used correctly, can equate to substantial benefits for patient care and outcomes, in addition to team cohesion in the workplace.

Reference List

1. Charted Society of Physiotherapy. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy xx Professional Values of Members’ Code and Behaviour 2 Code of Members’ Professional Values and Behaviours [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2019 Apr 9]. Available from: https://www.csp.org.uk/system/files/csp_code_of_professional_values_behaviour_full.pdf
2. Paulo H. Ferreira, Manuela L. Ferreira CGM, Kathryn M. Refshauge, Jane Latimer RDA. The Therapeutic Alliance Between Clinicians and Patients Predicts Outcome in Chronic Low Back Pain. Phys Ther [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2018 Dec 17];93(4):470–8. Available from: https://watermark.silverchair.com/ptj0470.pdf?token=AQECAHi208BE49Ooan9kkhW_Ercy7Dm3ZL_9Cf3qfKAc485ysgAAAj8wggI7BgkqhkiG9w0BBwagggIsMIICKAIBADCCAiEGCSqGSIb3DQEHATAeBglghkgBZQMEAS4wEQQMO0MSnV4gI-HI7OzaAgEQgIIB8qz6iu57_fmNNh5CaCBHEQrcHSXuq4b-yFnHbRe1ge_LJDw
3. Physiotherapy CS of. Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Framework [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2020 Mar 23]. Available from: http://www.csp.org.uk/professional-union/careers-development/cpd/csp-eportfolio/my-eportfolio/cpd-
4. Council H and CP. Physiotherapists | The Standards of Proficiency For Physiotherapists [Internet]. 2013 [cited 2020 Mar 24]. Available from: https://www.hcpc-uk.org/standards/standards-of-proficiency/physiotherapists/
5. Kruse CS, Krowski N, Rodriguez B, Tran L, Vela J, Brooks M. Telehealth and patient satisfaction: A systematic review and narrative analysis. Vol. 7, BMJ Open. BMJ Publishing Group; 2017. p. e016242.
6. Abramsky H, Kaur P, Robitaille M, Taggio L, Kosemetzky PK, Foster H, et al. Patients’ perspectives on and experiences of home exercise programmes delivered with a mobile application. Physiother Canada. 2018 Mar 1;70(2):171–8.