Patients’ Perception of Healthcare Givers Services

Aim: This study aimed to describe the communication between Ghanaian patients and nurses, midwives, and doctors regarding the core elements of the “Four Habits Model” (4HM). The specific objectives were (1) to describe the communication between Ghanaian patients and nurses, midwives, and doctors regarding the core elements of the “Four Habits Model” (4HM) measured by Four Habits Patients Questionnaire (4HPQ); and (2) to find an effective method to implement descriptions of the communication between patients’ and nurses, midwives, and doctors regarding the core elements of the 4HM.

Methods: This exploratory study had a cross-sectional, multicenter design. Four Hospitals participated in this study. A convenience sample of patients (N = 400) from four hospitals (Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale West Hospital, Yendi Hospital, and Salaga Hospital) were included. The researcher trained four research assistants who assisted with administering the questionnaires. All patients had one or several consultations with a nurse, midwife, and/or doctor during their hospital stay. A self-report inventory was administered to patients at discharge from the hospitals using Four Habits Patients Questionnaire (4HPQ) and eight questions on information regarding treatment (8QIRT). Data was collected from January and March 2016.

Results: Five eigenvalues greater than 1.0. They were 8.31 (component 1), 3.70 (component 2), 1.77 (component 3), 1.23 (component 4), and 1.16 component 5. Therefore, the components were labelled. The means and standard deviations showed that the additional 8QIRT were the least ranked. On the 4HM, Habit IV (invest in the end) was ranked least. The key findings were that the “Four Habits Model was applicable to doctors with some modifications., the advantages and disadvantages of treatment not explained to patients is very important, and that nurses, midwives, and doctors do not provide information on patients’ treatment.

Conclusions: Based on this study, patients will want issues of patients not allowed to express themselves to be addressed by their healthcare providers.