Illness--a Communicative Experience

Illness cannot exist in a vacuum. From the onset of symptoms to the diagnosis and treatment or management, communication is continual. The individual’s style of communication (both sending and receiving) will greatly influence adjustment to and management of the illness. Consider the first interaction with the medical professional who officially diagnoses the condition. Are questions asked? Are statements paraphrased in order to gain clarity? Is there an understanding of the information being given? Afterward, the individual must not only adjust to his or her own emotions, but to others’ as well.

A study by Donovan-Kicken, Tollison, & Goins--which expounds on “communication work…and managing talk” (p. 641) during illness--stated that one of the most notable characteristics of communication work by an individual is the framing of the message when sharing the diagnosis. There is no “set way” to deliver that message, as each person with whom the individual shares requires a different frame. One must also be cognizant of potential negative reactions—having a response prepared offers a sense of control in a situation where uncertainty is often high.

This process can be exhausting for the one experiencing illness. In addition to the work that goes into physically caring for oneself, one must exert energy through communication—the management of which happens offensively and defensively. Preparing the message and its delivery and deciding in advance with whom the information will be shared are proactive approaches that offer a sense of control to the one who is ill. Using email can assist in the delivery, as it helps with the management of emotions and provides time to construct and edit the message (Donovan-Kicken et al., 2012).

Being sensitive to the work that goes into communicating the diagnosis and managing the illness can assist family and friends in the support of the ill individual.

Donovan-Kicken, E., Tollison, A. C., & Goins, E. S., (2012). The nature of communication work during cancer: Advancing the theory of illness trajectories. Health Communication, 27(7), 641-652. doi: 10.1080/10410236.2011.629405