No abstract available.
Nonverbal Communication

Background: The Community Health and Development Program (CHDP) is a longstanding program of the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila, School of Health Sciences, Extension Campus in South Cotabato. While its service goes beyond teaching and extends to community development projects benefiting indigenous sectors, yet there has been no comprehensive and systematic evaluation on the program's health communication materials which promote culturally safe and acceptable health care practices that lead to normative changes. Objective: Using descriptive-interpretive qualitative approach, the researcher identified the communication approaches and documented their health knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) to identify any normative changes. Methodology: A total of 24 respondents gave their views on the program's dengue, malnutrition, teenage pregnancy, and family planning campaigns using a closed-ended survey, qualitative KAP analysis, and ethnovideography. Results: Results showed that information dissemination is limited to printed media and interpersonal communication via small groups; contents of health communication campaigns are less understandable; and social mobilization efforts demonstrated low levels of community engagement. Also, communication between health workers and Blaan indigenous peoples is not transactional due to the lack of feedback and involvement in the decision-making process. The respondents' knowledge on health demonstrated low levels of end-user engagement reflective of unsustainable knowledge on modern medicine. Normative changes are only evident on family planning campaigns. Conclusion The long-term sustainability of health promotion among indigenous peoples may be inhibited due to non-evident normative changes that trigger societal transformation. The paper suggests that a specialized communication strategy intended for Blaan indigenous peoples must be considered and applied in order to react collectively and effectively to address health issues.
Health Communication

Patient Care ; Nurses ; Communication

Medicare items were introduced in 2005 to encourage general practitioners (GPs) to involve other healthcare providers in the management of patients with chronic disease. However, there appears to be barriers to converting financial incentives and the use of information technology as a communication tool to better patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore these barriers from the perspectives of practice nurses and allied health practitioners. Three focus groups were held, comprising a convenience sample of 10 practice nurses and 17 allied health professionals from south-east Melbourne. Findings were reported under five themes: (1) attitudes and beliefs, (2) communication using care planning documents, (3) electronic communication, (4) care planning and collaboration between healthcare professionals and (5) ongoing challenges. While allied professionals use care planning tools, there is confusion about the extent to which these tools are for the GPs to provide structured care to assist with communication or funding mechanisms for allied health services. Further research is needed on the contributions of these groups to the care planning process and how communication and collaboration between healthcare professionals can be strengthened.
Communication ; Patient Care Planning

Breaking bad news is a process of delivering news, which may negatively affect a patient’s view of the future, however is an essential skill for doctors. There are a multitude of benefits if doctors can execute this task well, and will improve the disease journey for the patient. There are several published models including the SPIKES and ABCDE models to help guide the doctor to break bad news effectively. This important skill can be taught through various methods but the most effective may be actually observing a session by senior clinicians.
Education, Medical ; Communication

Communication ; Humans ; Physicians

Background. Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability in the Philippines, rendering its survivors unable to cope well with activities of daily living, including sexual functioning. Sexual dysfunction is an under-recognized complication post-stroke, and mobility and communication barriers among those with aphasia can further contribute to sexual dysfunction, potentially affecting their quality of life.

Objective. To determine the changes in sexual functioning among patients with aphasia and the communication methods they used to compensate for language and communication deficits.

Method. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving patients (?30 years old, with 1 episode of stroke, with non-fluent aphasia) and their respective sexual partners. Data were gathered using a clinician-administered questionnaire based on previous studies. Outcomes included changes in libido, coital frequency, time of resumption of sexual activity, erectile/ orgasmic ability, sexual satisfaction, and alternative methods of communication.

Results. Forty participants were included comprising of 20 patients with aphasia and their respective sexual partners. There was a decline in sexual activity among the couples, with reduced frequency of sexual intercourse. Both patients and partners reported difficulties in expressing the desire for sexual activities, hindering initiation. There was noted difficulty in ascertaining the sexual experience of patients with aphasia (i.e., whether pleasure or pain), hindering maintenance and enjoyment of the sexual act. In response to the difficulties mentioned above, sexual innuendoes as communication strategies were described by the couples.

Conclusion. The study provides baseline local data on changes in sexual functioning among stroke patients with nonfluent aphasia and their sexual partners. Sexual rehabilitation is recommended in the holistic management of patients with aphasia to train couples develop compensatory techniques to adjust to the changes in their sexual lives.

Research ; Education, Medical ; Communication

he effectiveness of nutritional programme in the ”QuangBinh GTZ-IPS Integrated Food Security Programme” was evaluated from1996 to 2002. In realying the project, 80-85% of mother gave birth to child in health service facilities;ln general, 98,3% of pregnant women got gestational consultation,while 85,1% got 3 medical visits. During gestation, 60% of women ate more, almost pregnant women got 2-3 month rest before delivering, 93% did not abstain from any food.90-98% of women who brought up under five -year -old child known about colostrum and to begin breast-feeding soon at the 1st postpartum hour; 57,3% known about supplementary food, 22% could know whether their children get malnourished, 90% known that malnutrition could be controlled successfully,80-90, 2% known that vitamin A deficiency could be treated by consuming foods containing vitamin A/carotene and administered by vitamin A capsula 2 times a year
Nutritional Status ; education ; communication ; Food ;

In this study, the actual usage of loanwords, abbreviations, and jargon (terminology) in the hands-on clinical setting and clinical nurses' understanding of terminology were examined. A glossary of terminology that caused communication problems was compiled in order to contribute to the improvement of communication among nurses and between nurses and physicians. A total of 1,000 nurses in six hospitals in Prefecture, A Japan, were asked to fill out a questionnaire prepared by us. A total of 163 examples of terminology that were incomprehensible to them and caused communication problems were extracted from the survey findings and used in the glossary of terminology. Of the 748 respondents, 97% said that they used special terms, and 81.6% said they had encountered terminology that they were unable to understand. Among the latter, 9.1% had experienced problems through the use of terminology. Some of the problems cited were [lack of comprehension by the listener], [delay in treatment], etc. Concerning the necessity of terminology, 44.5% responded that it was either [necessary] or [very necessary]. Examples of terminology that many respondents had difficulty understanding were [suteru] and [takiru], among others. The use of terminology, which can deliver information quickly and concisely to a listener, plays a large role in the performance of nursing duties, but the inherent danger of bringing about a medical accident was also indicated. In addition, it was suggested that as a specialist working in an important clinical setting concerned with people's lives, each nurse should keep in mind that it is extremely important to understand the correct meaning of technical terms and to use them appropriately.
Terminology ; Clinical ; Comprehension ; Nurses ; Communication