Exercise #6
Digital Communication and Ethics in Intercultural Healthcare
Authors: Prof. Karmen Erjavec and Sabina Krsnik, MBA
30–35 minutes
Description
Students explore how to communicate respectfully and effectively in digital healthcare environments by recognising cultural differences in tone, message length, and communication style. They learn to adapt their digital communication to promote clarity, empathy, and mutual understanding across cultures.
Methodological Guide
Objectives
Understand ethical and professional standards in digital healthcare communication.
Identify the main challenges of intercultural and interdisciplinary digital interaction.
Develop skills for clear, respectful, and efficient online communication.
Recognise ethical risks such as data protection, tone, and professional responsibility.
Apply digital communication principles to intercultural teamwork scenarios.
Identify the main challenges of intercultural and interdisciplinary digital interaction.
Develop skills for clear, respectful, and efficient online communication.
Recognise ethical risks such as data protection, tone, and professional responsibility.
Apply digital communication principles to intercultural teamwork scenarios.
Expected Outcomes
After completing this exercise, students will be able to:
Apply ethical and professional standards to digital communication.
Write clear, culturally sensitive, and respectful online messages.
Recognise potential ethical pitfalls and apply corrective strategies.
Demonstrate awareness of data protection and digital etiquette.
Apply ethical and professional standards to digital communication.
Write clear, culturally sensitive, and respectful online messages.
Recognise potential ethical pitfalls and apply corrective strategies.
Demonstrate awareness of data protection and digital etiquette.
Exercise Procedure
Stage 1 – Introduction (3–5 minutes): The teacher introduces the importance of digital communication in healthcare, focusing on professionalism, clarity, and ethics. The theoretical slide is presented to explain how digital channels shape modern healthcare communication.
Stage 2 – Presentation of examples (5 minutes): Students review the poor practice and good practice examples of digital communication. Together with the teacher, they identify what makes the good example more appropriate (tone, structure, security, professionalism).
Stage 3 – Writing task (10 minutes): Students work individually or in pairs to write a short 4–5 sentence dialogue between two healthcare professionals from different cultural backgrounds, showing improved communication using clear language, empathy, and digital etiquette.
Stage 4 – Reflection and discussion (5–7 minutes): Students share examples or discuss challenges they experienced while trying to adapt tone and clarity. The teacher guides reflection on cultural and ethical aspects of digital communication.
Stage 5 – Interactive matching activity (5–7 minutes): Students connect ethical communication principles with their correct definitions and receive immediate feedback.
Stage 6 – Summary and teacher synthesis (3–5 minutes): The teacher concludes by summarising key learning points: the role of professionalism, respect, and ethics in online communication, especially across cultures and professions.
Stage 2 – Presentation of examples (5 minutes): Students review the poor practice and good practice examples of digital communication. Together with the teacher, they identify what makes the good example more appropriate (tone, structure, security, professionalism).
Stage 3 – Writing task (10 minutes): Students work individually or in pairs to write a short 4–5 sentence dialogue between two healthcare professionals from different cultural backgrounds, showing improved communication using clear language, empathy, and digital etiquette.
Stage 4 – Reflection and discussion (5–7 minutes): Students share examples or discuss challenges they experienced while trying to adapt tone and clarity. The teacher guides reflection on cultural and ethical aspects of digital communication.
Stage 5 – Interactive matching activity (5–7 minutes): Students connect ethical communication principles with their correct definitions and receive immediate feedback.
Stage 6 – Summary and teacher synthesis (3–5 minutes): The teacher concludes by summarising key learning points: the role of professionalism, respect, and ethics in online communication, especially across cultures and professions.
Mode of Implementation
Group-based (role play and discussion).
Role of the Teacher
Introduce theoretical background and practical examples.
Lead the analysis of poor vs. good practice, highlighting structure, tone, and ethics.
Guide students through the dialogue writing task.
Facilitate discussion and summarise ethical principles.
Oversee the interactive matching activity and debrief results.
Lead the analysis of poor vs. good practice, highlighting structure, tone, and ethics.
Guide students through the dialogue writing task.
Facilitate discussion and summarise ethical principles.
Oversee the interactive matching activity and debrief results.
Theoretical Basis
This exercise builds on Section 9.3 (Strategies for Effective Cultural Communication) of the handbook, as well as theories of computer-mediated communication (Walther, 1996) and digital professionalism. Effective digital communication in healthcare requires clarity, empathy, and respect to ensure ethical and professional interactions across cultures and disciplines. In online contexts, where non-verbal cues are limited, tone, structure, and word choice are critical for maintaining understanding and trust (Silverman, Kurtz, & Draper, 2013). Guided by principles of confidentiality, accuracy, and cultural sensitivity, this exercise highlights how digital communication can uphold ethical standards, protect patient information, and strengthen intercultural collaboration in modern healthcare environments.
Practical Application
Students analyse examples of poor and good digital communication and reflect on their tone, structure, and compliance with ethical standards. They then write a short intercultural dialogue to practise adapting communication style for clarity and respect. The exercise concludes with an interactive task linking ethical principles with their definitions.
Knowledge Transfer
Students learn to:
Communicate effectively in digital environments while respecting privacy and professionalism.
Adjust tone, formality, and content for different audiences and cultural contexts.
Recognise ethical dilemmas in online communication and apply appropriate responses.
Integrate empathy and precision into written digital communication.
Communicate effectively in digital environments while respecting privacy and professionalism.
Adjust tone, formality, and content for different audiences and cultural contexts.
Recognise ethical dilemmas in online communication and apply appropriate responses.
Integrate empathy and precision into written digital communication.
Reinforcement & Reflection
How can tone and structure influence meaning in digital communication?
What ethical considerations must be observed when communicating online?
How do cultural and professional differences affect digital etiquette?
What ethical considerations must be observed when communicating online?
How do cultural and professional differences affect digital etiquette?
Required Resources
Computer or digital platform for interaction.
Paper and pencil.
Optional: examples of real anonymised professional emails.
Paper and pencil.
Optional: examples of real anonymised professional emails.
Assessment / Evaluation
Self-assessment: Students evaluate clarity, tone, and ethical compliance of their own written dialogue.
Peer assessment: Optional feedback on intercultural adaptation and politeness strategies.
Teacher observation: Evaluation of engagement, understanding of ethical standards, and communication improvement.
Interactive task: Serves as a formative assessment of ethical and digital communication principles.
Peer assessment: Optional feedback on intercultural adaptation and politeness strategies.
Teacher observation: Evaluation of engagement, understanding of ethical standards, and communication improvement.
Interactive task: Serves as a formative assessment of ethical and digital communication principles.
Practical Tips
Encourage students to use neutral and inclusive language in digital communication.
Highlight the importance of clear subject lines, greetings, and closings in professional writing.
Discuss how different digital platforms affect communication tone and security.
Use examples from healthcare to make the discussion more relatable.
Highlight the importance of clear subject lines, greetings, and closings in professional writing.
Discuss how different digital platforms affect communication tone and security.
Use examples from healthcare to make the discussion more relatable.
Discussion Topics
What are the main risks of digital miscommunication in healthcare?
How can professionals maintain empathy and respect in written messages?
Why is cultural sensitivity crucial in online collaboration?
Stage 1 — Digital communication dialogue
Scenario: A doctor from Slovenia and a nurse from another country are collaborating online on a patient care plan using a new digital platform. The nurse writes short, direct messages that seem impolite to the doctor, while the doctor's long, detailed responses appear confusing to the nurse. Misunderstandings arise from differences in cultural communication styles and digital etiquette. Write a short dialogue (4–5 sentences) in which both professionals improve their digital intercultural communication: use clear and respectful language, clarify intentions (for example, “I didn't mean to sound rude — I just wanted to be efficient.”), and show empathy and openness to different communication styles.
- Your 4–5 sentence intercultural digital dialogue
How can professionals maintain empathy and respect in written messages?
Why is cultural sensitivity crucial in online collaboration?
Stage 1 — Digital communication dialogue
Scenario: A doctor from Slovenia and a nurse from another country are collaborating online on a patient care plan using a new digital platform. The nurse writes short, direct messages that seem impolite to the doctor, while the doctor's long, detailed responses appear confusing to the nurse. Misunderstandings arise from differences in cultural communication styles and digital etiquette. Write a short dialogue (4–5 sentences) in which both professionals improve their digital intercultural communication: use clear and respectful language, clarify intentions (for example, “I didn't mean to sound rude — I just wanted to be efficient.”), and show empathy and openness to different communication styles.
- Your 4–5 sentence intercultural digital dialogue
Further Resources
Aceto, G., Persico, V., & Pescapè, A. (2018). The role of Information and Communication Technologies in healthcare: Taxonomies, perspectives, and challenges.
Hall, E. T. (1976). Beyond Culture.
Samovar, L. A., Porter, R. E., & McDaniel, E. R. (2017). Communication between cultures.
Silverman, J., Kurtz, S., & Draper, J. (2013). Skills for communicating with patients.
Walther, J. B. (1996). Computer-mediated communication: Impersonal, interpersonal, and hyperpersonal interaction.
Hall, E. T. (1976). Beyond Culture.
Samovar, L. A., Porter, R. E., & McDaniel, E. R. (2017). Communication between cultures.
Silverman, J., Kurtz, S., & Draper, J. (2013). Skills for communicating with patients.
Walther, J. B. (1996). Computer-mediated communication: Impersonal, interpersonal, and hyperpersonal interaction.
Additional Remarks
This exercise bridges communication skills with ethical awareness in digital healthcare environments. It encourages students to integrate professionalism, empathy, and intercultural understanding into online interactions while reinforcing ethical responsibility and data protection.