INTER-PERSONAL COMMUNICATION AND HEALTHCARE SERVICE DELIVERY AT FEDERAL MEDICAL CENTER KEFFI, NASSARAWA STATE

This study Interpersonal Communication and Healthcare service Delivery in Nigeria a study of Federal Medical Centre Keffi sought to understand interpersonal communication between health care workers and patients and how the use of by interpersonal communication skills or its absence affects healthcare delivery. The research was guided by various objectives: to Assess the use of interpersonal communication between healthcare workers and patients in FMC Keffi, Examine the use of language during service delivery in Federal Medical Centre, Keffi., Investigate how the use of interpersonal communication skills or its absence has affected healthcare delivery in the study location and Nigeria, Find out the challenge encountered by health workers in their attempt to communicate with patients through interpersonal means and Determine ways through which interpersonal communication skills can be more effective towards improving healthcare service delivery. Through In-depth review of relevant literature on the subject matter, the concepts of interpersonal communication, health service delivery are thematically reviewed. Also, empirical studies and reviewed accordingly and the uncertainty reduction theory and goal, plan, action theory are reviewed and analyzed as related to interpersonal communication and health care service delivery. The research questions were answered through a survey using the stratified random sampling to ascertain the number of the population to be studied and questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data and analyze from the total population of health workers that interact directly with patients. Findings indicate that Language barrier, cultural difference, lack of time and health literacy is some of the problems identified as barriers to interpersonal communication in healthcare facilities. This research recommends frequent trainings, motivation of workers and road surface markings to improve interpersonal communication and enhance healthcare service delivery.