Pheeeeeeew! Hey everyone, allow me to take a minute to clear the cobwebs here!
It’s been long since anything took place in this “newsletter room”. For two weeks, I skipped my non-negotiable “Sunday sacred hours” of drafting this edition. First, I had a family emergency that led to another family emergency. Then, I now have more responsibilities. I am beginning to consider that after the next episode if the support systems I am putting in place do not work out, we will work towards changing the frequency of #HealthLitNotes, to at least twice monthly. Please let me know what you think.
A fortnight ago, on edition 18, we kickstarted a 2-part series on the importance of listening actively to patients. In this edition, we will continue, with the sister part of listening: empathy.
With the rise in the use of social media for sharing health information, we are not just struggling with misinformation from pseudo-experts who are graduates of the University of WhatsApp. We also have to check regularly as health professionals, who share content and engage online, to be sure that we're always engaging in a professional manner.
One of the things we struggle with is how to offer medical/health advice without letting our personal biases get the better part of us. These biases are often based on our lived experiences: religion, culture, upbringing, social groups, early learning, struggles, opportunities, pains, privileges…
For instance, sexual and reproductive health is one major issue that elicits bias in this clime. We still tiptoe around conversations on the use of contraceptives and family planning services. Yet understanding that people have a right to health, and to the advisory services that we have been licensed and contracted to provide, allows us to work even more professionally. Choices exist. We cannot respect choices in the absence of empathy.
Two weeks ago, I got on Twitter Spaces with three colleagues to discuss Building Empathy in Health Communications. Chidimma Chukukere is a licensed nurse in Nigeria and the UK who has had in-depth work experience in sexual and reproductive health, especially having worked in-person with vulnerable groups, like commercial sex workers. Dr Valentine Okechukwu is also a registered medical doctor in Nigeria and the UK, whose experience in engaging with patients across various cultures, especially in one of the conflict-volatile areas in Nigeria, also comes to play. Favour Nnadi, a medical laboratory scientist registered both in Nigeria and UK, health communicator and Acting Head of Laboratory in a leading hospital in Abuja, also contributed immensely to this conversation. Here are some lessons from our one-hour conversations, which are relevant to our work as healthcare providers:
Being empathetic is simply the ability to put yourself in someone’s shoes. Empathy is understanding the burden of the disease on the patient. Understand that anyone who is sick did not plan it. Proper communication plays a role in the healing process of a patient.
Healthcare workers need emotional intelligence as a key requirement for interacting empathetically with patients.
What we say is as important as how we say it.
Feedback mechanisms allow better patient-provider interactions. So practitioners can ask for patient feedback after an engagement. They can also ask trusted colleagues to observe and provide feedback.
Using specific power-words that empower patients better reflects empathy. “I am sorry…” “How can I help you achieve…?“ “Is it okay if…?” “You are capable of…” “I admire your progress with…”
Tools and Resources for Further Understanding of This Topic:
Michael A West —Compassionate Leadership: Sustaining Wisdom, Humanity and Presence in Health and Social Care (link)
John McMahon —The Power of Leading with Empathy: Overcoming the challenges of leading in a non 9 to 5 world (link)
Katie Columbus —How to Listen: Tools for opening up conversations when it matters the most (link)
Suggested courses available on the Global Health e-Learning Platform
Health Communication for Managers
Social Media for Health and Development
Introduction to impact evaluation on health communication programs
Please do share today’s #HealthLiteNotes with a colleague or friend.
Stay winning,
Chidindu Mmadu-Okoli
Health Literacy Notepad