COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF NURSES CARING FOR PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH TUBERCULOSIS AT PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN THE KHOMAS REGION OF NAMIBIA

Esther Kamenye, Scholastika Iipinge, Agnes Van Dyk and Daniel Opotamutale Ashipala*

ABSTRACT

The overarching purpose of this study was to explore and describe how nurses communicate with patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) at public health facilities in the Khomas Region of Namibia. To address the purpose of the study, a research project was conducted, which was quantitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual in nature. The population and the sample of the study were the same (thirty nurses from all the public health facilities in the Khomas Region). The data collection method employed was observation using a checklist. The main findings established that nurses who were caring for patients diagnosed with tuberculosis exhibited inadequate communication skills in the following areas: creating a conducive environment for communication, assessing and understanding the patients’ mood and level of understanding, listening, questioning, constructive feedback, understanding of non-verbal communication, respect, and empathy for patients. The researcher recommends that the TB policymakers integrate these communication skills into TB policies, guidelines, and manuals when planning to improve the health status of the patients diagnosed with TB, their families, and the community in general.

Keywords: Communication Tuberculosis Caring Skills Patients