1
|
Tefera YD, Ali AC, Woldearegay AG. A Study on Communication Practices in Reducing Non-Communicable Diseases in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia. Risk Manag Healthc Policy 2024; 17:827-841. [PMID: 38601884 PMCID: PMC11005850 DOI: 10.2147/rmhp.s452771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose special challenges in developing countries In Ethiopia, the growing NCD burden has raised a public health concern with significant social, economic, and developmental effects. Thus, the study sought to examine health communication practices in addressing the NCDs in Bahir Dar City of the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Methods A qualitative case study was conducted from January to April 2023. The study employed in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and observations to gather data from health extension workers, NCD experts, and NCD focal persons about their experiences and perspectives regarding NCD prevention and control. The participants were purposively selected, and a thematic analysis technique was employed to analyze the data. Results The study found that several health communication strategies, such as health promotion, training and creating model households, screening, referrals, follow-ups, rehabilitation services, and activities reporting were employed. Nevertheless, there was a lack of consistent, reliable, and long-lasting and professional health communication regarding NCD prevention and management. Some of the challenges contributing to such deficient practices were overloading HEWs with various tasks, allocating many households to a single HEW, shortage of screening tools, shortage of financial and human resources, weak interdisciplinary collaboration, COVID-19, and recurrent conflicts in the city and the region. Above all, lack of health communication skills affected the health interventions. Concerning communication methods, one-to-one communication was frequently employed, while mass media and social media were rare. Generally, NCD communication, in particular, and health communication, in general, did not receive priority as other health-related activities in the city. Conclusion The study found that there were poor health communication practices in preventing and controlling NCDs. Thus, professional practice of health communication about NCDs must be prioritized, and emphasis should be given to inter-sectoral collaborations. Prioritizing financial and human resources is also essential for effective NCD communication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yekitie Dagne Tefera
- Department of Journalism and Communication, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Adem Chanie Ali
- Department of Journalism and Communication, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Morag I, Kedmi-Shahar E, Arad D. Remote Communications between Patients and General Practitioners: Do Patients Choose the Most Effective Communication Routes? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:7188. [PMID: 38131739 PMCID: PMC10742481 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20247188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The use of remote communication between patients and general practitioners has greatly increased worldwide, especially following the COVID-19 outbreak. Yet, it is important to evaluate the impact of this shift on healthcare quality. This study aimed at evaluating remote healthcare quality by comparing four remote patient-to-physician communication modes used in Israel. The research methodology entailed criteria-based analysis conducted by healthcare quality experts and a subjective patient-perception questionnaire regarding the healthcare quality attributed to each mode and the extent to which each mode was used. Our findings indicate that the extent to which each mode is used was found to be inversely related to its rated quality. As such, the common assumption whereby patients tend to choose the mode of communication that will most likely ensure high service quality is refuted. Our findings also indicate that remote services often hinder the physician's understanding of the patient's clinical issues, as patients encounter difficulties in correctly articulating and conveying them; such services also hinder the patient's understanding of the recommended course of treatment. These findings should be addressed by policymakers for improving remote communication services to ensure optimal healthcare service quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ido Morag
- School of Industrial Engineering and Management, Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, Ramat-Gan 5252626, Israel
| | - Efrat Kedmi-Shahar
- Ministry of Health—State of Patient Safety Division, Ministry of Health—State of Israel, 39 Yirmiyahu St., P.O. Box 1176, Jerusalem 9446724, Israel;
| | - Dana Arad
- Clalit Health Services, Innovation Division, 40 Toval St., Ramat Gan 5252247, Israel;
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Betrian M, Umans D, Vanna M, Ol S, Adhikari B, Davoeung C, Callery JJ, Sovann Y, Peto TJ, Maude RJ, van der Pluijm RW, Bunreth V, Grobusch MP, van Vugt M, Lubell Y, von Seidlein L, Dondorp AM, Sovannaroth S, Lek D, Tripura R. Expanding the role of village malaria workers in Cambodia: Implementation and evaluation of four health education packages. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283405. [PMID: 37682947 PMCID: PMC10490887 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early access to correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment is essential for malaria elimination, and in Cambodia this relies on village malaria workers (VMWs). Decreasing malaria transmission leave VMWs with diminished roles. Activities related to the control of other health conditions could keep these community health workers relevant. METHODS During 2022, 120 VMWs attended training at local health centres on four health education packages: 1. hygiene and sanitation; 2. disease surveillance; 3. management of mild illness; 4. vaccination and antenatal care. All training and evaluation sessions were documented through meeting minutes, and 19 focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among VMWs and health centre personnel. Audio-records of FGDs were transcribed and translated in English and underwent thematic analysis. RESULTS VMWs reported strong interest in the training and welcomed the expansion of their roles thus assuring their continued relevance. VMWs prioritized disease surveillance and management of mild illness among the available training packages because these topics were seen as most relevant. While training was considered comprehensible and important, the low literacy among VMWs was an impediment suggesting training materials need to be delivered visually. Since VMWs have limited resources, incentives could ensure that VMWs are motivated to undertake additional roles and responsibilities. CONCLUSIONS The transformation of VMWs into community health workers with roles beyond malaria is a promising approach for sustaining health care provision in remote areas. Training needs to consider the low scientific literacy, time constraints and limited resources of VMWs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mipharny Betrian
- Centre of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dafne Umans
- Centre of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Moul Vanna
- Action for Health and Development, Battambang Province, Battambong Municipality, Cambodia
| | - Sam Ol
- Action for Health and Development, Battambang Province, Battambong Municipality, Cambodia
| | - Bipin Adhikari
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chan Davoeung
- Battambang Provincial Health Department, Battambang Province, Battambong Municipality, Cambodia
| | - James J. Callery
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Yok Sovann
- Pailin Provincial Health Department, Pailin Province, Pailin Municipality, Cambodia
| | - Thomas J. Peto
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Richard J. Maude
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- The Open University, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
- Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Rob W. van der Pluijm
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Voeunrung Bunreth
- Battambang Provincial Health Department, Battambang Province, Battambong Municipality, Cambodia
| | - Martin P. Grobusch
- Centre of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michèle van Vugt
- Centre of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centres, Location AMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yoel Lubell
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Lorenz von Seidlein
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Arjen M. Dondorp
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Siv Sovannaroth
- National Centre for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Dysoley Lek
- National Centre for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- School of Public Health, National Institute of Public Health, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
| | - Rupam Tripura
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|