Doctoral Degrees (CHNS)

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Browsing Doctoral Degrees (CHNS) by Subject "Communication skills"

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    Guidelines to enhance communication skills of nurses caring for patients diagnosed with Tuberculosis at public health facilities in the Khomas region of Namibia
    (2013) Kamenye, Esther
    The overarching purpose of this study was to explore and describe how nurses communicate with patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) at public health facilities in the Khomas Region of Namibia, and to develop guidelines for communication that would enhance the communication skills of nurses. To address the purpose of the study, a research project was conducted, which was quantitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual in nature. The study was conducted in four phases, starting with an exploration and description of communication process between nurses and patients diagnosed with tuberculosis in Phase 1, followed by the development of a conceptual framework for effective communication in phase two. Phase 3 involved the process of developing guidelines, and Phase 4 focused on the implementation and evaluation of these guidelines. The population and the sample of the study were the same (thirty nurses and thirty patients diagnosed with TB from all the public health facilities in the Khomas Region). The data collection method employed was observation using a checklist, followed by individual semi-structured face-to-face interviews with nurses, and also with the patients diagnosed with tuberculosis. The quality of research and research instrument were determined by its validity and reliability. Data obtained were analysed by using the Epi InfoTM software package, and content analysis. The main findings established that nurses who were caring for patients diagnosed with tuberculosis exhibited inadequate communication skills in the following areas: creating a conducive environment for communication, assessing and understanding the patients’ mood and level of understanding, listening, questioning, constructive feedback, understanding of non-verbal communication, respect, and empathy for patients. The study results also revealed that patients diagnosed with tuberculosis had inadequate knowledge about TB. The majority of patients diagnosed with TB did not know the type of TB they had and they perceived alcohol and smoking as the causes of TB. From the findings, the researcher developed guidelines for communication that were reviewed and validated by the guidelines development group. The nurses were trained to apply guidelines on communication during their daily interaction with patients diagnosed with tuberculosis. Three months after training, evaluation results indicated a significant improvement in reducing the aforementioned communication limitations of the nurses, while the patients’ knowledge of TB was also improving. All patient participants knew that TB was caused by the bacteria/germs, and all of them knew the type of TB they had. The researcher recommends that the TB policymakers integrate these communication guidelines into TB policies, guidelines, and manuals.
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    A health education programme to enhance knowledge and communication skills of health care workers serving people living with HIV/AIDS on haart in Namibia
    (University of Namibia, 2015) Chipare, Mwakanyadzeni A.
    Namibian health care workers (health care workers) are affected in providing quality health care services to people who are living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) if they do not have the necessary knowledge, as well as adequate interpersonal communication and counselling skills. In a health care facility set-up, all patients either come from the community or are referred from the wards or other departments by health care workers. The health care worker as a (sender) conveys information (messages) and a patient (receiver) is expected to comprehend these messages and to respond by giving feedback to the sender who, in turn, provides feedback until the communication process is completed. The process should take place in a conducive environment without any interference, such as noise, to allow the swift completion of the communication process. The messages that both parties convey should be clear, accurate, coherent, and concise. The purpose of the study was to develop a health education programme that would enhance the communication skills and knowledge of health care workers serving PLWHA on HAART in Namibia. The intention was to develop a health education programme (HEP) for strengthening these skills. The population comprised two groups, namely health care workers and HAART patients. A purposive sampling method was used for selecting 23 health care workers and 20 HAART patients. Data was collected through focus group discussions with health care workers and in-depth interviews with HAART patients. Tesch in De Vos, Krueger’s and Casey (2009) theories guided the data analysis process. The programme was developed based on themes of the study and implemented by training health care workers and describing recommendations. Trustworthiness validation utilised data credibility, transferability, dependability, and conformability. Ethical measures were observed throughout the study. The researcher conducted the study in four phases. Phase I presented a needs assessment of the health care workers’ experiences in interpersonal communication, counselling skills, HIV / AIDS management and health knowledge of PLWHA on HAART. Phase II represented the conceptual framework to illustrate the study results that were supported by the emerged themes and sub-themes discussed in Phase I of the research. Phase III comprised the development of a health education programme that enhanced knowledge and communication skills of health care workers who serve PLWHA on highly active antiretroviral therapy in Namibia. Phase IV presented the implementation of HEP that included a training workshop for health care workers and an evaluation exercise after the implementation of the programme. Three main themes emerged during data analysis. Theme one indicated that health care workers experienced a lack of sufficient communication skills that was necessary for addressing the health concerns of PLWHA on HAART. Health care workers responses indicated that they had insufficient knowledge and inadequate communication and counselling skills to deal with health needs of the PLWHA on HAART. From their responses, it also transpired that health care institutions experienced a severe shortage of information, education, and communication (IEC) materials and other resources for curbing HIV / AIDS From Theme two, it emerged that health care workers experienced a lack of exposure to knowledge about HIV / AIDS management. It transpired that health care workers were not getting any support from their health institutions in developing knowledge or in-service training on HIV / AIDS management. It was also surprising to note that there were no guidelines that clearly assisted them in engaging or communicating with PLWHA on HAART. There was no structured supervision or quality assurance strategies that guided their superiors in monitoring their performance on the execution of daily activities, specifically in relation to HIV / AIDS Management. Theme three exposed the insufficient availability of health information to PLWHA on HAART. It transpired that HAART patients did not have access to information on HIV / AIDS aspects; such as HIV prevention, adherence to treatment of HIV, blood results, sexual relationships, alcohol abuse, and nutrition. HAART patients also emphasised their need to be empowered in managing self-disclosure, stigmatisation, and discrimination. The health education programme that enhanced the knowledge, as well as the communication and counselling skills of health care workers for communicating successfully with PLWHA on HAART was finally evaluated in accordance with the guidelines of Schiavo and Quinn’s (2007) evaluation process.