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Central yet overlooked: engaged and person-centred listening in rehabilitation and healthcare conversations

Abstract Purpose Listening in healthcare practice is often overlooked. This article addresses the misconception that listening in rehabilitation and healthcare is a simple skill, and proposes a conceptual framework of effective listening in healthcare conversations, based on conceptualizations, attributes, and outcomes associated with listening. Method A critical review was conducted, encompassing literature on listening in everyday and healthcare conversations. Articles were retrieved through database and hand searching. Results Although various types of listening have been proposed, they share common attributes, including being attentive, emotionally involved, and non-judgmental. A conceptual framework is proposed in which listening in healthcare is seen as a relational process fostered by the ‘engaged and person-centred listener’, leading to relational outcomes (e.g., mutual engagement, collaboration) and client-specific outcomes. Listening in healthcare conversations can be difficult due to situational conditions and the level of self-regulation required. Conclusions Effective listening in healthcare differs from everyday listening with respect to its attributes, intentionality, and challenges. In healthcare, listening is essential to mutual engagement and other relational outcomes that mobilize the client towards pursuing goals. There is a need for greater understanding of the centrality and challenges to effective listening in healthcare conversations. Implications for rehabilitation practice are discussed. Implications for Rehabilitation Listening in rehabilitation conversations is a core skill or advanced competency—not a ‘soft’ skill with little effect on client outcomes. Effective listening is essential to mutual understanding, engagement, relationship building, and collaboration, which mobilize the client towards pursing goals in rehabilitation. Listening effectively in rehabilitation conversations involves deliberately adopting a person-centred perspective. Effective rehabilitation professionals have several listening intentions in mind in addition to understanding, including engaging the other person in the therapy session, building relationship, and collaborating. Rehabilitation professionals can deliberately adopt the intention to be an “engaged and person-centred listener” who is with and for the client.