Reflective Essay On Person Centred Care

Introduction:
Being an allied healthcare professional requires not only the ability to meet standards and to be able to work in a consistent professional manner, but also to be person centred, compassionate and a good listener. Person centred care means that radiographers consider the individual, health needs, social background or lifestyle in order to find the best outcome for the patient. Diagnostic radiographers interact with people at the time in their lives when they are most likely to feel vulnerable, feel uncertain about their future or anxious about results. Therefore, person centred care can be achieved through good communication skills such as verbal and nonverbal which can aid the relationship between the radiographer and the patient to promote person-centred care. Also, it is good practice to involve patient into decision-making as it empowers patients and helps radiographers to perceive things from the patient’s point of view. Communicating with patients is also important to preserve the patient’s dignity. Dignity is the maintenance of the patients’ self-respect through respecting their privacy and autonomy.

Nonverbal communication:
According to Burgoon et al. (1995), non-verbal communication is a form of communication where information is transmitted between

To be person centred, radiographers should use the right message said in the appropriate context, depending on the individual. For example, in practise a paediatric patent may require a step-by-step explanation whereas an elderly patient may require repetition of instructions in a louder voice. Also, to preserve the patient’s dignity, it is advisable to avoid using medical terminology, as some patient might not understand and this could make them feel uncomfortable and insignificant. It is preferable to communicate using plane English in a slower speed which gives the patient time to process the