Health Workers Advised To Interact With Clients

By Stephen K.Effah
Saturday, 19 April 2008

THE Guidance and Counselling students of the University of Education, Winneba, have underscored the need for health workers in the country to improve interaction with their clients.

That, they explained, would help their clients, to relax and express their problems clearly for appropriate diagnosis of their ailment, in order to give accurate therapy.

The students noted that although substantial investments have been made in the health sector to enhance access to basic health services, experiences and observations by stakeholders showed that the quality of provider-client communication is consistently weak nationwide.

The students made this observation at a seminar organised by the Practicum II Group III Guidance and Counselling students for the students of Winneba Community Health Nurses Training College, as part of their four year post diploma programme.

It was under the theme: "Improving Interaction between Health Workers and their Clients," and aimed among other things to highlight and expose the student nurses to factors that inhibit and promote quality health service delivery in the country.

In a drama, the students portrayed the kind of reception and interaction that should exist between health workers and their clients, especially in government health facilities across the country.

They noted that even when the health providers know what messages to communicate, "they do not have the interpersonal skills to communicate them effectively. They often do not know how to communicate with their patients".

These weaknesses, the students said, are manifested in showing favouritism to others, breaking of confidentiality and poor information giving among others.

Ms Florence Kazi, one of the students, said in spite of the huge investment in the health sector, there have been relatively few studies to investigate the quality of services delivered, saying "nothing has been done about interpersonal communication".

She said effective interpersonal communication between health care providers and their client is one of the most important elements for improving client satisfaction, compliance and health outcomes.

To improve interaction, she said, it is important for both providers and clients to view healthcare as a partnership in which each party contributes to maximise end results.

Ms Kazi urged fellow student nurses to adopt measures that would increase a healthier relationship through effective interaction.

Another student, Mrs Makafui B.Kpatibi, expressed the need for health workers to empathise with their clients, maintain confidentiality and to respect the dignity of their clients.

"The health worker is expected to be loyal, tolerant, trustworthy, tactful, friendly and approachable," she advised.

Dr Antwi Danso, lecturer at the Psychology and Education Department of the UEW, said it is important to make health service delivery friendly.