Journal of Reproductive Health and Contraception

Abstract

Background: Therapeutic communication is a purposeful interaction between health professionals and patients. There is a pressing need for research that focuses on factors influencing it. However, little is known about it. Therefore, this study was aimed at identifying predictors of therapeutic communication between nurses and admitted patients at Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Jimma zone, Ethiopia, 2016. Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Jimma University Specialized Hospital from March 21 to April 9, 2016. 192 study participants recruited using stratified sampling technique. Interviewer administered questionnaire was employed as the data-collection tool Principal component analysis, Independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, simple and multivariable linear regressions were applied using a statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version20.A P-value less than 0.05 were taken as significant association. Result: 192 admitted patients at the Jimma University Specialized Hospital participated in the study, obtaining a response rate of 96%. The study revealed that 67(34.9%) of the patients rated high level of therapeutic communication. Significant predictors of therapeutic communication were educational status (β=5.870, P=0.011), language difference (β= -6.002, P=0.014), education difference (β=5.208, P=0.010) and Perceived patient view score (β=3.573,P=0.001) Conclusion: The implementation level of therapeutic communication was low. Education, language difference, education difference and perceived patient view scores were significant predictors of therapeutic communication.