Sources of Communication that Help Facilitate Effective Understanding of Diabetes Health-Care: A Case at Stanger Hospital's Diabetes Clinic

Abstract

Effective health communication is a core requirement to help facilitate effective understanding of disease and illness. This paper reports on a study conducted at Stanger Hospital’s diabetes clinic in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa to explore the sources of communication that assist patients in understanding diabetes as an illness. A qualitative case-study methodology was used consisting of in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. Persuasive behaviour change communication in respect of diabetes care was analysed as it related to the relationship between the health-care professional (HCP) and the patient. The Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), which had been developed to understand how messages sent from the sender (HCP, media sources) could have either a positive or a negative impact (attitude change) on the receiver, was used to analyse and interpret the data obtained from patients. Results indicated that in order to facilitate effective health-care, literacy aspects were important in health-care and that HCPs needed to ensure that patients understood the different sources of communication.