A Study on Communication Practices in Reducing Non-Communicable Diseases in Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose special challenges in developing countries In Ethiopia, the growing NCD burden has raised a public health concern with significant social, economic, and developmental effects. Thus, the study sought to examine health communication practices in addressing the NCDs in Bahir Dar City of the Amhara Region of Ethiopia. Methods: A qualitative case study was conducted from January to April 2023. The study employed in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and observations to gather data from health extension workers, NCD experts, and NCD focal persons about their experiences and perspectives regarding NCD prevention and control. The participants were purposively selected, and a thematic analysis technique was employed to analyze the data. Results: The study found that several health communication strategies, such as health promotion, training and creating model households, screening, referrals, follow-ups, rehabilitation services, and activities reporting were employed. Nevertheless, there was a lack of consistent, reliable, and long-lasting and professional health communication regarding NCD prevention and management. Some of the challenges contributing to such deficient practices were overloading HEWs with various tasks, allocating many households to a single HEW, shortage of screening tools, shortage of financial and human resources, weak interdisciplinary collaboration, COVID-19, and recurrent conflicts in the city and the region. Above all, lack of health communication skills affected the health interventions. Concerning communication methods, one-to-one communication was frequently employed, while mass media and social media were rare. Generally, NCD communication, in particular, and health communication, in general, did not receive priority as other health-related activities in the city. Conclusion: The study found that there were poor health communication practices in preventing and controlling NCDs. Thus, professional practice of health communication about NCDs must be prioritized, and emphasis should be given to inter-sectoral collaborations. Prioritizing financial and human resources is also essential for effective NCD communication.

Exploring Effective Communication Strategies Employed by Physicians in Delivering Bad News in Ethiopian State Hospitals.

Introduction: Delivering Bad News (DBN) presents a highly challenging situation in physician-patient communication. This study aims to gain insight into the various communication strategies employed by physicians when DBN. Methods: This qualitative study conducted thematic analysis of in-depth interviews. Physicians from two comprehensive hospitals with large patient populations were selected purposively based on their engagement in delivering bad news to patients. Thematic analysis was made. Results: Thematic analysis of the data revealed several communication strategies physicians use when delivering bad news. These communication strategies include. Jointly Initiated Physician-Patient Communication Strategies: ((i) Discussing with patient family/caregivers, (ii) Collaborating with other physicians and specialists), Patient-Engaged/Led Communication Strategies: ((iii) Investigating with adolescents alone or without the family, (iv) Helping patients predict what the news is, (v) Identifying patients' emotions related to bad news, (vi) Assessing patients' level of understanding, (vii) Minimizing patient anxiety), Physician-Related Communication Strategies: ((viii) Making sure diagnostic results are accurate, (xi) Identifying causes for rejection, (x) deliveringbad news using clear and simple communication). Conclusion: Delivering bad news to patients can be challenging for physicians. It is important to be clear and accurate, and to prepare patients for the news. Patients may feel more comfortable and open when they are unaccompanied and with their healthcare provider. The study concluded that physicians need to be prepared to deliver bad news in a sensitive and effective manner.

Assessing the roles of stakeholders in community projects on environmental security and livelihood of impoverished rural society: A nongovernmental organization implementation strategy in focus.

The current study investigates how stakeholders' participation was used to improve environmental security and the livelihoods of the poor in rural community of Ethiopia. In particular, the study attempts to identify models of stakeholder participation and the factors that influence participation using qualitative methods. In-depth interviews, focus group discussions, organizational documents and observation used to collect the data. Thematic analysis of the data highlights consultation, collaboration, and partnership as key organizing constructs. The study offers a distinctive viewpoint on the literature and on rural community practice through the participation of stakeholders. We suggest nongovernmental organizations thoroughly utilize grassroots approach to gain acceptance, trust and sustainability of community projects.

The Nexus Between Physician-Patient Communication and Health Outcomes: Level of Patient Communication Satisfaction and Its Impact on Adherence in Ethiopian Comprehensive Specialized Hospitals.

Introduction: This study aims at assessing the level of patient communication satisfaction and its impact on patient adherence among public hospitals in Ethiopia. Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design. Data were obtained using Communication Assessment Tool (CAT) and the Adherence to Refills and Medication Scale (ARMS) administered to 381 patients asking them to evaluate satisfaction with physician-patient communication and report their level of adherence respectively. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were computed. Accordingly, the study used correlation, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, and linear regression to show causal relationships among factors in physician-patient communication and their effect on adherence. Results: The findings revealed that the total mean score for communication satisfaction was M = 2.69, showing that the majority of participants were dissatisfied with the physician-patient communication. Further, age and frequency of visits were significantly associated with communication satisfaction, while sex, place of residence, employment, educational level, and marital status failed to produce a systematic effect. The correlation between patient satisfaction with communication scores on the CAT questionnaire was significantly correlated with pharmaceutical adherence (ARMS score) (r = 0.316, p < 0.001), indicating that when patients were satisfied with communication, the level of adherence increased. The regression coefficient also showed that positive relationship was found between communication satisfaction and adherence (b = 1.85, t = 9.759, p < 0.05), indicating that with better quality of communication, the level of adherence also increased. Conclusion: The majority of participants were found to be dissatisfied with the physician-patient communication. The more satisfied the patient is with communication the better their adherence.

Corrigendum to "Empowering rural society through non-formal environmental education: An empirical study of environment and forest development community projects in Ethiopia" [Heliyon 8 (3) (March 2022) Article e09127].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09127.].

Empowering rural society through non-formal environmental education: An empirical study of environment and forest development community projects in Ethiopia.

This study examined non-formal Environmental Education (EE) is employed in interventions aimed at empowering rural society in Ethiopia. The study focused on a relatively less explored area of how non-formal EE in the form of project-based learning and how it was used to equip the community with skills and knowledge. Using qualitative data collection methods and thematic analysis was employed as an analytical strategy, the study produced evidence of the importance of community programs to out-of-school youths and adults in the acquisition of fundamental skills and knowledge. Greening campaigns were found to be essential in sustaining the lives of the rural communities. As demonstrated in the study, community projects aimed at enhancing learning are in sync with theory of project-based learning. Assisted by relevant conceptualization, the organization which motivated this study, develops insights for knowledge management for further implementation strategies. Its major focus is on empowering poor communities and their institutions by ensuring environmental security and livelihoods. As crucial stakeholders, communities received knowledge and technical skills through experience sharing, training, and workshops. Findings further indicated that most of the project community members were illiterate prior to their engagement in the project activities, which demonstrated that they needed to acquire basic knowledge and skills enact agency. Many community members became part of the project because of the mobilization and awareness creation campaign by the local development organization. However, there have been several roadblocks to the implementation of the community projects. But most importantly the study shows, skills and knowledge imparted through EE were important to implement community projects, helping to enhance community participation in raising environmental quality, thereby improving environmental performance, farming methods, and livelihood situations. We suggest project-based learning be used as a tool for community empowerment initiatives aimed at responding to environmental problems.