Introduction: Communication skills are vital for successful relationships between patients and healthcare professionals. Failure to communicate may lead to a lack of understanding and may result in strained interactions. Our theoretical point of departure was to make use of chaos and complexity theories. The aim of this study was to examine the features of strained interactions and to discuss their relevance for healthcare settings.

Methods: A netnography study design was applied. Data were purposefully sampled, and video clips (122 minutes from 30 video clips) from public online venues were used.

Results: The results are presented in four categories: a) unpredictability; b) sensitivity dependence; c) resistibility; and d) iteration. They are all features of strained interactions.

Conclusion: Strained interactions are a complex phenomenon that exists in healthcare settings. The findings provide health care professionals guidance to understand the complexity and the features of strained interactions.