International Journal of Sub-Saharan African Research (IJSSAR)

Background: Significant number of studies suggests that communication plays invaluable role in healthcare outcomes; however, what remains a black box in the domain is how language barriers, communication technologies and effective communication training can break barriers associated with healthcare disparities in ethnically diverse environments such as Okada, Edo State, Nigeria.
Objective: This study explored ways in which communication can contribute in breaking the barriers and reduce disparities in healthcare delivery in Edo State, and highlighted its influence on patient outcomes, professional collaboration, and delivery efficiency.
Method: One hundred and Ninety seven survey participants were included in the study comprising healthcare practitioners (n=50) and patients (n=147; total N=197) from one public and two private medical facilities in Okada Edo State (Okada Health Center, Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital and the Parents Consultative Forum Clinic (PCF). Anchored on the Two-steps flow theory of communication, media richness (MRT), and communication accommodation (CAT) theories, Results: The study sheds light on how poor communication amongst healthcare professionals and between medical staff and patients often leads to medical errors, misdiagnoses, and patient dissatisfaction. Further, the study unearthed key limitations that include language differences, workload pressure, and inadequate training.
Conclusion: suggests that the presence or absence of clear, timely, and respectful communication significantly affects patient outcomes, professional collaboration, and overall system efficiency. Unique contribution: This study contributes to the existing literature by providing a nuanced understanding of the communication barriers between healthcare providers and patients in a rural Nigerian setting. The study's findings have implications for the development of effective communication strategies that can be replicated in similar settings. Recommendation: The study recommends prioritisation of structured communication strategies and contextualised communication strategies, including professional training, technological integration, and patient education, that address the unique barriers in rural Nigerian settings. Such efforts could also include provision of language interpretation services, cultural competency training for healthcare providers, and patient-centered communication approaches.