Kommunikasie met sterwendes en hulle dierbares

Abstract

Psychological and spiritual support of the dying patient involves establishing a relationship of trust, which requires special communication skills. Health professionals are not usually trained in these skills and they tend to dissociate themselves from dying patients and their relatives. An analysis of the communication proses enables us to improve our own pattern of communication. Firstly, counselling requires that we direct our attention — by eye contact, our position, listening and conversation. Various techniques may be used to improve conversation, such as the use of open and closed questions and paraphrasing. One must also be aware of the role of non-verbal communication. Secondly, confrontation is a technique used to stimulate exploration of topics which the patient is avoiding. The dying person is still a living human being and we should talk to him about the same things and for the same reasons we would talk to anyone else — because we are interested in him as a person.