Enhancing Patient-Centered Care With Nonverbal Communication

Effective communication is the bedrock of high-quality, patient-centered care. Healthcare providers undoubtedly are aware of the continued emphasis and importance placed on verbal communication through various quality measures and standards. However, much daily communication is nonverbal and may encompass facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, posture, and even tone of voice and silence.

The ability to understand and use nonverbal communication is a powerful tool that can help healthcare providers connect with patients in a positive way and reinforce mutual understanding and respect.¹

Providers should have situational awareness of their nonverbal communication so they can recognize potentially problematic body language and consciously change it. For example, certain situations might trigger negative nonverbal reactions, such as seeing a difficult patient, managing a patient complaint, or dealing with stress. Various strategies can help healthcare providers consciously improve nonverbal communication. For example:

• Smile and maintain appropriate eye contact, but do not stare.
• Show interest in what the patient is saying and avoid tapping your fingers, gazing out of the window, looking at the clock, yawning, and other nonverbal actions that might indicate that you’re bored or in a hurry.
• Sit when you can, and lean forward to show that you’re engaged. Don’t stand looking down on the patient in a authoritative stance.
• Nod your head to show you are listening.
• Maintain an open and relaxed posture and avoid crossing your arms or other gestures that might suggest unwillingness to listen, disapproval, or a judgmental attitude. Encourage the patient to share relevant and complete information.²

The use of technology also can result in nonverbal cues that might frustrate or alienate patients. Providers should take care to avoid digital habits that create barriers to patient engagement, such as turning your back on the patient while typing information, failing to explain to the patient what you’re including in the record, looking at a computer during sensitive discussions, or looking at a tablet or phone during the patient encounter. Some strategies that might help include explaining the technology and some of its benefits to the patient, focusing solely on the patient during discussions, or using a human scribe or ambient scribe to document the clinical encounter.

For more communication techniques and guidance, see MedPro’s Communicating Effectively With Patients to Improve Quality and Safety guideline.

Endnotes

¹ Segal, J., Smith, M., Boose, G., & Jaffe, J. (2016, April). Nonverbal communication and body language. Retrieved from www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships/nonverbal-communication.htm

² Wu, B. (2020, March 17). How physician body language can affect patient interactions. Wolters Kluwer. Retrieved from www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/how-physician-body-language-can-affect-patient-interactions; Health Communication Matters. (n.d.). Non-verbal communication. Retrieved from https://healthcarecommunicationmatters.co.uk/uncategorised/non-verbal-communication/; National Healthcare Communication Programme. (n.d.). Nonverbal communication: A leaflet for healthcare staff. Retrieved from www.nhcprogramme.ie/docs/module-1/skillscards/mod1-skillscard-nonverbal-communication.pdf

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