From Fear to Hope: How Communication Transformed Our Pregnancy Journey A Personal Narrative on the Critical Role of Healthcare Communication in Patient Experience

Valan. P, Research Scholar, VIT Business School, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India
Pulidindi Venugopal, Professor & AND Dean (i/c), VIT Business School, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamilnadu, IndiaFollow

Abstract

This article emphasises the transformative potential of compassionate healthcare communication, particularly in the context of pregnancy loss. This personal narrative illustrates how varying communication approaches can significantly alter patient experiences, transforming anxiety-laden medical encounters into empowering partnerships with healthcare providers. A ten-month journey through pregnancy after a devastating miscarriage revealed the profound impact of communication quality on both clinical outcomes and emotional healing. The narrative contrasts three distinct communication environments: dismissive administrative systems that induce unnecessary stress, insensitive support staff during vulnerable moments, and a physician whose empathetic approach fundamentally transforms the entire pregnancy experience. Through a detailed examination of these encounters, this study demonstrates how information sharing, coupled with empathetic communication, actively contributes to successful clinical outcomes and emotional recovery from medical trauma. This personal account captures how inadequate communication amplified fear and anxiety, while compassionate, patient-centred communication gradually rebuilt trust and hope in the patient. The narrative illustrates how effective communication during labour provided the emotional strength that supported physical endurance, contributing to a successful natural delivery. Through the lens of our pregnancy journey, this narrative reflects on the urgent need for healthcare systems to recognise communication as fundamental to effective treatment, advocating for treating patients as whole individuals and understanding that the difference between fear and hope in healthcare often lies in how clinical expertise is communicated.

Recommended Citation

P V, Venugopal P. From Fear to Hope: How Communication Transformed Our Pregnancy Journey A Personal Narrative on the Critical Role of Healthcare Communication in Patient Experience. Patient Experience Journal. ; 12(2):14-18. doi: 10.35680/2372-0247.2024.