Communication can be difficult even without the added barrier of being from a different culture. many cultures have nuances that add context to spoken words. It may be emphasis on a word, or body language. These unwritten meanings can complicate communication. In normal life, this can be frustrating, but in a healthcare scenario, it could mean a wrong diagnosis, uninformed consent, failed teachings and overall dissatisfaction. One thing people should know about communication is that there are different communications contexts. High Context Communication: this is where there is already common understanding before the communication begins. A lot of the details can be left out and is considered to be implied. The listener is responsible for correctly interpreting the information given. Silence is used to reflect and process the information.
Low Context Communication: this is where there is an assumption that the listener has very little context or previous knowledge and thus they can not be expected to pick up on subtleties. The speaker is responsible for ensuring the message is conveyed in a clear manner.
(Srivastava, 2007)
Although there are situations where each type of communication is most appropriate, there are also cultural preferences to the context of communication styles. Do you know what type of communication you gravitate towards? Do you know what cultures tend to use high context? Low Context?
Srivastava (Ed.). (2007) The Health care professional’s guide to clinical competence. Toronto, ON: Mosby Elsevier