Written by Shadelia Quailey
Edited by Devika Baddhan
Introduction
Communication between healthcare professionals and individuals is critical in establishing effective patient care. While healthcare professionals are well-versed in medical terminology, patients are often unfamiliar with this jargon. Knowledge gaps in medicine become a major barrier to medical treatment during physician-patient interactions [1]. Health communication serves as a vital bridge for closing these knowledge gaps. When effectively disseminated through media, it provides essential information on various conditions, helping individuals better understand health issues and navigate their circumstances.
Furthermore, re-evaluating how medical professionals approach health communication is essential for developing effective healthcare plans and identifying factors that impact communication. This leads to a critical conversation about communication and brain health, particularly concerning emotional competence in post-traumatic brain injuries. So, where does emotional brain trauma fit within the scope of health communication?
What is Emotional Traumatic Brain Injury? What are its origins?
Before discussing emotional traumatic brain injury, it’s important to establish a clear definition of traumatic brain injury. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is when an external force, either a forceful blow or jolt, from an object, enters the head [6]. When defining mild traumatic brain injury, it’s important to distinguish between its physical and emotional attributes while also acknowledging their overlaps. Emotional traumatic brain injury results from stress hormones impacting various brain functions, which can lead to cognitive impairment. More specifically, the term "emotional traumatic brain injury" alters the interpretation of emotional trauma, resulting in a comorbid perspective [6].
Establishing a clear definition of “Health Communication” and its role in society: What is Health Communication?
Health communication is the study and practice of how information related to health is created, shared, and understood among individuals, organizations, and communities. It involves the exchange of messages that convey information about physical, mental, and social well-being. The field is intended to influence health-related decisions and empower individuals to make informed choices for better overall health [2]. It encompasses the promotion of health literacy, health risk communication, mass communication of health and medicine, patient-professional communication, and telemedicine applications [3, 5].
The Benefits of Health Communication
Health communication is fundamental for every facet of health and well-being, encompassing disease prevention, health promotion, and overall individual quality of life [3]. By studying health communication, we can better understand and address the environmental, social, and psychological factors that influence behavior and health outcomes [3].
Understanding the Impact of Emotional Traumatic Brain Injury on Communication
The mechanism of emotional traumatic brain injury involves chronically elevated hormone levels, which reduce neurogenesis and lead to dendritic atrophy and impaired cognition [6]. As a result, individuals may experience disorientation, episodes of dissociation, disruptions in perception, and formation of other defense mechanisms due to mental inflexibility and intense emotional irritability [6]. The effects extend further, manifesting as impaired attention and concentration, increased distractibility, memory impairments, slower information processing, and poor decision-making skills [2, 8]. Additionally, emotional triggers can arise, disrupting, distorting, and undermining effective communication.
Conclusion: So, Where Does It Fit In?
While the term “emotional traumatic brain injury” still requires further research and deliberation regarding its formal recognition, the social implications highlighted through health communication necessitate its establishment. Patients are at the center of healthcare, and allowing them to become lost in translation or unaware of their undiagnosed limitations fosters medical distrust and discouragement. One of the primary goals of health communication should be to alleviate distress for patients and reduce agitation among doctors. This can be achieved by fostering empathy, utilizing effective communication methods, and clarifying factors that influence communication.
A study found that 90% of individuals prefer doctors who avoid using medical jargon, as this approach caters to having a better rapport with patients [1]. This finding suggests an alternative way to address the emotional needs of individuals with emotional traumatic brain injury, providing them with a supportive space to manage their emotional triggers without fear of judgment. Another study examined the use of pictures versus text in an experiment aimed at assisting individuals with low literacy rates [4]. Participants responded correctly to comprehension questions 93% of the time when using pictures, compared to just 47% when using text, particularly in reading a medicine label and accompanying patient information leaflet [4]. This suggests that simplifying communication by removing or limiting text and utilizing images can help address the deficits associated with emotional traumatic brain injury.
Assuming that simplified text alone is sufficient for patients with cognitive impairments to comfortably address their health concerns or make decisions that meet their needs leaves room for necessary adjustments in health communication. This deduces that recognizing and incorporating emotional traumatic brain injury is essential to the core of health communication and diffusion strategies. Addressing emotional and mental constraints can reshape the communication dynamics between patients and doctors, ultimately leading to more successful health outcomes.
References
1. Allen, K. A., Charpentier, V., Hendrickson, M. A., Kessler, M., Gotlieb, R., Marmet, J., Hause, E., Praska, C., Lunos, S., & Pitt, M. B. (2023). Jargon be gone – patient preference in doctor communication. Journal of Patient Experience, 10, 237437352311589. https://doi.org/10.1177/23743735231158942
2. Darshini, J. K., Afsar, M., Vandana, V. P., Shukla, D., & Rajeswaran, J. (2021). The Triad of Cognition, Language, and Communication in Traumatic Brain Injury: a Correlational study. Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice, 12, 666–672. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1734008
3. Harrington, N. G. (2014). Health communication: Theory, Method, and Application.
4. Houts, P. S., Doak, C. C., Doak, L. G., & Loscalzo, M. J. (2005). The role of pictures in improving health communication: A review of research on attention, comprehension, recall, and adherence. Patient Education and Counseling, 61(2), 173–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2005.05.004
5. Rimal, R. N., & Lapinski, M. K. (2009). Why health communication is important in public health. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 87(4), 247. https://doi.org/10.2471/blt.08.056713
6. Shulman, L. M. (2020). Emotional traumatic brain injury. Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology, 33(4), 301–303. https://doi.org/10.1097/wnn.0000000000000243
7. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). (n.d.). National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/traumatic-brain-injury-tbi
8. Vutakuri, N. (2023). Detection of emotional and behavioural changes after traumatic brain injury: A comprehensive survey. Cognitive Computation and Systems, 5(1), 42–63. https://doi.org/10.1049/ccs2.12075
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