Communication skills of physicians during patient interaction in an in-patient setting at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Teaching Hospital (TASH), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2009

Abstract

Background: Physician-patient relationship is foremost among the numerous qualities needed for sound patient care. In the Ethiopian clinical setting, a vast majority of patients complain that physicians do not interact with them properly. Objective: Assess behavior of physicians (verbal and nonverbal) when interacting with patients. Methods: Randomly selected physicians were observed in doctor-patient interactions in an inpatient setting using a standardized check list at Tikur Anbessa Hospital in November, 2009.Mean comparison of total scores of each category as well as mean interaction and biomedical exam times were made using Pearson's Chi square, and Student's T test. Results: 211 interactions were observed. 22.7% were consultants, 49.7% were residents and 26.5% were interns. Mean total score of observed behavior ranged from poor to satisfactory across category and showed statistically significant variations. Average interaction time was 7.87 minutes while average biomedical exam time was 5.05 minutes. The means showed a significant variation (p=0.001 at 95% CI). Conclusion:The study has shown that there is a reasonable ground to suggest that physician-patient interaction has deficiencies. Due attention should be given to improve communication skills of physicians. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2011;25(1):3-9] Background Quite often, the subject of physician-patient interaction and communication is raised as a concern mainly by the public; but health providers themselves (through their associations), health authorities and training institutions have shared this concern through informal communication and exchange of opinion as there is no published work locally.

Cultural Competence among Maternal Healthcare Providers in Bahir Dar City Administration, Northwest Ethiopia: Cross sectional Study

“…This was substantiated by mothers who were involved in the qualitative study expressing unhappiness that the health care providers did not understand their cultural needs. This was in line with other studies in which clients reported that their healthcare providers did not appreciate their religious or cultural needs [ 16 , 21 , 22 ].…”

“…In our study 84 % of health providers preferred universal approach of management for all women seeking maternal services regardless of their residence, socio economic status, religious background or worldview. However, a study done in Ghana indicated that as there are a range of practices imbedded in each culture, maternal care providers should never assume that all women are the same as this results in stereotyping [ 21 ]. The gap of our study with this fact might be related to lack of culturally tailored curriculum of health workers or lack of awareness of providers on the impact of culture on maternal health services.…”

“…Gender difference between the provider and the client can act as a barrier in the use of health services [ 21 , 25 ] About 63 % of health workers participated in this study agreed that being a male or female health care provider had no impact on the service utilization of women as far as the service was given. This was also supported by the result of qualitative part in which majority of study participants had no gender preference for the healthcare provider.…”

Communicative challenges among physicians, patients, and family caregivers in cancer care: An exploratory qualitative study in Ethiopia

“…Few studies on communication in Ethiopian health care are available in general, and in cancer care in particular [13,14]. Cancer awareness and knowledge in Ethiopia is low, especially relating to cervical cancer [15], but also regarding breast cancer [16].…”

Translation, Adaptation, and Assessment of the Communication Assessment Tool in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

“…2,3 Ethiopia's undergraduate medical school curricula recently adopted the CanMEDS Framework, which identifies a physician's role as ''Communicator'' as one of the essential physician competencies. 4 Research shows that Ethiopian providers have room to grow in this area, 5 and that they rank lower than many of their African peers. 6 While several studies show Ethiopian patients are satisfied with the communication of their providers, 5,7 one study showed high levels of disrespect and abuse that was not perceived as such by patients, 8 potentially signaling that poor communication is misunderstood and underreported.…”