HEALTHCARE PROVISION AND PATIENT COMMUNICATION AT TAMALE TEACHING HOSPITAL IN NORTHERN REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

This study assessed healthcare provision and patient communication on service delivery. This research was carried out at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), Tamale, Ghana. The main aim of this study was on effective communication among health care providers and patient on service delivery. All patients who were hospitalized for a week or more were the target population for this research at the time of the study plus the healthcare providers. Through (Simple random) sampling technique, 250 healthcare providers (nurses, medical officers, laboratory technicians, surgeons) were surveyed. Also, a qualitative exploratory strategy was used and purposive sampling applied and chose five (5) patients and three (5) healthcare providers. The study adopted the sequential mixed model design of gathering the data. Descriptive, multiple linear regression and content analysis were employed in analyzing the study’s data. The descriptive analysis of the study revealed that, the major (70.4%) form of communication used is the verbal. It further revealed that, majority (92%) faced communication barriers which included, environment related, patient related, and healthcare provider related barriers. The regression result shows that, communication competence (0.00), and interpersonal relation (0.00) are predictors of service quality and patient satisfaction at 5% level of significance. The study recommends that, health care providers should make good use of both verbal and non-verbal cues during their consultation or interaction sessions with patients. Also, overcoming communication bottle necks, management should at periodic intervals organize on the job training, seminars and workshops for health care providers on effective therapeutic communication.