Addressing Social Context in Health Provider and Senior Communication Training: What Can We Learn From Communication Accommodation Theory?

The ability to communicate enables people to share information, thoughts, and concerns with others in a certain time and place. Communication plays a fundamental role across a variety of institutions. However, the stakes are exceptionally high in primary health care (PHC). Poor communication in PHC increases the patient's risk of medication errors, patient injury, delay in treatment, and/or death. Effective communication is especially critical when health providers communicate with seniors because aging is partly responsible for physical, mental, and social/emotional changes. Studies have suggested that simulations are an effective means to train health providers in the development/enhanced communication skills; however, current educational programs focus on physical and cognitive aspects of aging. This editorial highlights possible contributions from the communication accommodation theory (CAT) to structure a communication training strategy that may help to improve healthcare providers' ability to converse and connect with the vulnerable older population and address their social and emotional well-being.