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, and to develop guidelines for
communication that would enhance the communication skills of nurses.
To address the purpose of the study, a research project was conducted, which was
quantitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual in nature. The study was
conducted in four phases, starting with an exploration and description of
communication process between nurses and patients diagnosed with tuberculosis in
Phase 1, followed by the development of a conceptual framework for effective
communication in phase two. Phase 3 involved the process of developing guidelines,
and Phase 4 focused on the implementation and evaluation of these guidelines. The
population and the sample of the study were the same (thirty nurses and thirty
patients diagnosed with TB from all the public health facilities in the Khomas
Region). The data collection method employed was observation using a checklist,
followed by individual semi-structured face-to-face interviews with nurses, and also
with the patients diagnosed with tuberculosis. The quality of research and research
instrument were determined by its validity and reliability. Data obtained were
analysed by using the Epi InfoTM software package, and content analysis.
The main findings established that nurses who were caring for patients diagnosed
with tuberculosis exhibited inadequate communication skills in the following areas:
ii
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 study results also revealed that patients diagnosed with tuberculosis had
inadequate knowledge about TB. The majority of patients diagnosed with TB did not
know the type of TB they had and they perceived alcohol and smoking as the causes
of TB.
From the findings, the researcher developed guidelines for communication that were
reviewed and validated by the guidelines development group. The nurses were
trained to apply guidelines on communication during their daily interaction with
patients diagnosed with tuberculosis. Three months after training, evaluation results
indicated a significant improvement in reducing the aforementioned communication
limitations of the nurses, while the patients’ knowledge of TB was also improving.
All patient participants knew that TB was caused by the bacteria/germs, and all of
them knew the type of TB they had.
The researcher recommends that the TB policymakers integrate these communication
guidelines into TB policies, guidelines, and manuals.