Abstract:
Effective health provider- patient communication, a precursor to building a wholesome,
trusting relationship, has been recognized as a vital factor in cultivating suitable self-
management practices among patients with chronic infections like HIV/AIDS. This
study investigated the level and determinants of doctor patients’ communication in
Homa Bay County. A cross-sectional hospital-based survey was conducted among 362
HIV/AIDS patients in Homa Bay County. Data was collected using a self-administered
structured questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha and confirmatory factor analysis tests were
used to ascertain the reliability and validity of study instruments, while the Chi-square
test was used to establish the relationship between demographic factors and doctor
patient communication. 51% of the respondents were females, with the majority, (30.9%)
of respondents being in the aged 45 years and above. Most respondents described health
provider-patient communication as effective (mean score 3.60, and SD 1.164. Gender,
educational level, marital status, and illness duration were significantly associated with
doctor patient communication in this study at p values less than 0.05. Majority of the
respondents were concerned that the clinical officer/doctor was taking too fast (61.3%)
and used medical terminologies that were difficult to understand (62.7% and seldom
used pictures, drawings or models to explain issues (70.4%), all of which may reduce
the effectiveness of doctor-patient communication. There is need to eequip healthcare
providers with effective communication skills, including ability to profile patients with
inadequate health literacy and who may require special consideration, including taking
more time with them and avoiding use of medical jargon during consultation.
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