Therapeutic communication

Subcategory (n = 23)

Meaning unit (n = 121)

Reference No.

Verbal communication

providing explanations that are easy for the communicatee to understand

using descriptive phrases; using phrases open to interpretation; providing simple explanations to help patients and families understand complex medical terminology and language; providing appropriate explanations of the patient’s condition; providing a clear explanation regarding treatment procedures; two other meaning units

15, 17, 18

conveying necessary information to the communicatee

promoting psychological well-being by providing guidelines regarding health conditions; introducing the related problem; promoting psychological well-being by providing comprehensive information about what to expect in the future; dispelling anxiety by providing evidence for care; correcting misinformation and ambiguous information; two other meaning units

13, 15, 17, 29, 32

summarizing and presenting the content of the communication

summarizing and presenting the content of interaction

14

clarifying the communicatee’s problem

clarifying the story; making the story specific; making the interviewer’s position and purpose of the interview clear; using focused questions to elicit problems in daily life; focusing on main thoughts and ideas about the problem; four other meaning units

15, 17, 21, 31, 32

asking questions that elicit the suffering of the communicatee

eliciting suffering; listening back to utterances about sexual desire or interest

29, 32

presenting a topic to the communicatee

suggesting the topic of sexuality; introducing a topic of sexuality that is difficult to discuss; switching the topic from everyday interactions with sexual partner to the nature of sexual acts

32

asking questions that encourage the communicatee to act proactively

participating in decision making; discussing self-care behaviors; allowing the patient to choose the subject; allowing the patient to specify the subject of act

12, 17, 28

asking questions using the communicatee’s words as they are

repeating words or phrases used by the patient; repeating the other person’s utterances on a topic; repeating the last words used by the patient

17, 32

asking questions to confirm the communicatee’s cognition and understanding

checking each other’s feelings behind the words; checking things not understood to avoid misunderstandings; asking about points that are not understood in the client’s words; not pretending to understand what the client is saying; reaffirming commitment to the patient and family; two other meaning units

15, 17, 23, 27, 29

asking questions that bring out the demands of the communicatee

using open and closed questions; asking frank questions about sexual values; listening back with different expressions about utterances related to sexuality; responding to what the other person says with a question; expressing doubts in words; two other meaning units

17, 31, 32

exploring the direction of idealized family and goals

asking questions that open up possibilities; asking about possibilities the person might have; understanding one’s family’s hopes; thinking about concrete ways to move toward one’s dreams and hopes; making a plan to achieve one’s hopes; one other meaning unit

19, 20, 25, 29

Non-verbal communication

being with the communicatee holistically

concentrating on the present moment; being there as another person rather than listening to the patient as a therapist; being here and now; just being present for communication in the terminal stage; showing your presence; two other meaning units

19, 30, 32

showing a supportive attitude to the communicatee

having the impression that the interviewer has overwhelming power; paying attention to facial expressions and demeanor other than words, casual breathing and posture; being considerate toward the other person’s feelings

24, 29, 32

creating an atmosphere in which the communicatee feels comfortable talking

using humor therapeutically; adjusting to the pace of emotional expression of the sexual partner; having lightheartedness that is conscious of horizontal communication that deepens mutual understanding; maintaining friendliness; four other meaning units

12, 17, 18, 20, 21, 29, 32

securing time for the communicatee to speak

allotting enough time to express feelings; allotting enough time to express worries; securing time for facilitating the expression of underlying feelings; relieving psychosocial distress by an opportunity to discuss feelings with a health professional; allotting children sufficient opportunities to speak freely; one other meaning unit

13, 17, 18, 21

noticing changes in the content of the communicatee’s story

observing that a change has occurred in a repeated story; observing that a budding difference has appeared in a repeated story

27

Verbal/non-verbal communication

showing sincerity to the communicatee

showing a soothing presence; strengthening the patient-nurse relationship through honest communication; self-disclosing and sharing with the client the therapist’s own sense of helplessness and anxiety; informing the client of the interview protocol; listening to the other person politely; one other meaning unit

15, 16, 31, 32

building a relationship of trust with the communicatee

building a trusting relationship through daily care; forming rapport; trust-building by the therapist; building trust between the patient and the therapist through good humor; building trust between the patient and the therapist through friendly behavior; three other meaning units

16, 19, 25, 26, 32

accepting the communicatee’s strengths

positively acknowledging what the client is thinking; praising the humorous approach to the relationship with the sexual partner; praising the client’s skillful negotiation of the relationship with the sexual partner; acknowledging and praising the other person; respecting their singularities; three other meaning units

17, 22, 24, 26, 28, 32

showing interest in the communication

expressing interest in the problems of the hypertensive patients by professionals; expressing concern for the problems of hypertensive patients by professionals; including supportive language; having the ability to show concern; feeling concerns; two other meaning units

12, 17, 31, 32

active listening to the communicatee

improving psychological adjustment through active listening; listening carefully; listening reflexively; having the ability to actively listen

12, 13, 17, 23

showing empathy to the communicatee

empathizing with the importance of discussing sexuality; giving an empathetic response; expressing empathy; strengthening the patient-nurse relationship through empathic communication; one other meaning unit

14, 15, 31, 32

making the communicatee aware of one’s own beliefs

bringing awareness to negative beliefs

32