Understanding the Health & Social Care Communication Cycle

The communication cycle diagram

* Sender

- Who has the information?

- What is the information?

- Is it relevant?

- Is it accurate?

- Is it necessary?

* Encoding

- How will you communicate it?

- What words will you use?

- What tone will you use?

- What non-verbal messages will you express?

* Channel

- How will you send the information?

- Verbal or nonverbal?

- Written or spoken?

- In person or by telephone?

- Through a third party?

* Decoding

- How does the receiver understand the message?

- What is the meaning of the message?

- How does the receiver interpret the non-verbal messages?

* Receiver

- Who receives the information?

- Is the receiver able to understand the information?

- Is the receiver willing to listen?

* Feedback

- How does the sender know that the message has been received?

- Does the receiver ask questions?

- Does the receiver nod or smile?

- Does the receiver make eye contact?

* Context

- What is the environment like?

- What is the relationship between the sender and receiver?

- What is the cultural background of the sender and receiver?

* Response

- What happens as a result of the communication?

- Does the receiver take any action?

- Does the sender get the desired response?