COMMUNICATION BARRIERS BETWEEN DOCTORS, NURSES AND PATIENTS IN MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS AT HOSPITALS OF LAHORE PAKISTAN

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to identify the barriers between doctors, nurses and patients that they perceive while communicating with each other in outdoor departments of army and public healthcare hospitals, Lahore, Pakistan.

Study Design: Exploratory and descriptive.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) and Jinnah Hospital Lahore, Pakistan, for a period of 3 weeks.

Material and Methods: Semi-structured interviews of doctors, patients and nurses (2 each, one male and one female in each category) were conducted and analyzed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Snow ball sampling technique was used to recruit the participants from various socio-economic strata, experience and age.

Results: The study reveals linguistic, cultural, behavioral and management barriers in doctor nurse patient communication from the perceptions of the participants. In addition to this, lack of training of medical professionals inhibits the interpersonal communication between them and patients.

Conclusion: The results suggest that the quality of healthcare can be improved by introducing interventions in doctor nurse patient communication. The hospitals should introduce communication skills training programme in medical practices, with a focus on the linguistic and cultural diversity prevailing in the country and how to improve management skills.