An Evaluation of Doctor-Patient Communication: A Case Study of Meridian Medical Clinic at the Nation Centre in Nairobi

Abstract

In Kenya, cases of patients accusing medical practitioners of negligence resulting in damage to health or even death are on the rise. These complaints are not necessarily due to professional incompetence but some result from improper diagnosis or incorrect adherence to prescribed treatment due to ineffective communication. This study comprised three research objectives. The first objective was to evaluate factors that affected doctor-patient communication. The second objective was to determine barriers to effective doctor-patient communication and the third objective was to establish ways of improving doctor-patient communication. Uncertainty Reduction Theory (1975) and Social Penetration Theory (1973) were the theoretical basis of this research to evaluate doctor-patient communication. The research used both qualitative and quantitative approaches to collect data that was analyzed to get findings. Questionnaires were administered to 200 patients. Subsequently, in-depth interviews were conducted with four doctors and six patients. Secondary sources were also used to strengthen the research. A content analysis of the transcribed interviews was performed while the responses from the questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS 17. Findings revealed that 89% of the patients were satisfied with the way the doctors communicated with them. The major elements of communication the respondents highlighted were effective listening, trust, doctors’ communication style and self-disclosure. A lot of factors such as use of jargon, differences in age, gender and culture and length of interaction also hindered effective communication. It was observed that doctor –patient communication can be improved by training doctors in communication skills and exploiting other channels of communication like online services.