HEALTH COMMUNICATION ANALYSIS OF DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP AND PATIENTS’ HEALTH BEHAVIOUR IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA

Abstract

Communication in doctor-patient relationship has undergone a transition over time from doctor-dominance to patient-centred approach. Unfortunately, the patient-centred approach adopted today has not positively influenced the health behaviour of patients. For this, health communication scholars wonder if there is any difference between patient-centred and the doctor-dominance approach. The study adopted the descriptive survey research method, using two sets of questionnaires for data collection from patients and doctors. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents for the study. Data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages and chi-square technique. Communication in doctor-patient relationship had significant influence on patients’ follow-up appointments (χ² = 112.867) and compliance to prescribed drugs (χ² = 48.333).   Communication in doctor-patient   relationship had significant influence on patients’ choice of the hospital (χ²= 44.083) and  consumption of balanced or specific diet (χ² = 61.350). Communication in doctor-patient relationship had significant influence on patients’ exercising regularly (χ² =18.80).The study concluded that doctor-patient relationship in health communication influences patients’ health behaviour in South West Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that doctors should apply an integrated/ synergetic approach in communicating with their patients and that audience-specific social media platforms should be utilized to complement the doctor-patient communication for more effective result.