2.1. 2.1 communication channels in health
Communication is at the heart of who we are as human beings. It is our way of exchanging information; it also signifies our symbolic capability. These two functions reflect what James Carey characterized as the transmission and ritual views of communication, respectively. Carey recognized that communication serves an instrumental role (e.g. it helps one acquire knowledge) but it also fulfils a ritualistic function, one that reflects humans as members of a social community. Thus, communication can be defined as the symbolic exchange of shared meaning, and all communicative acts have both a transmission and a ritualistic component. (WHO)
In Kenya, The Health Sector Working Group Report (2012), dubbed …show more content…
Knowledge about diabetes mellitus was more in women. Regarding practice patterns only 36.5% of individual with knowledge about diabetic retinopathy, believed that if they controlled their blood sugar, they could avoid a visit to an ophthalmologist, compared with 55.5% with no knowledge (Rani et al, 2008). Many Kenyans with diabetes are elderly, have limited knowledge about diabetes, and they have poor attitudes and practices of the disease (Maina, Ndegwa, Njenga, & Muchemi, 2011). One cross sectional study revealed that the level of diabetes knowledge in all regions of Kenya is poor but worse in rural areas A shortage of nurses hinders effective teaching of diabetes self-management education (DSME) to patients (Gross et al., 2010)and the diabetes educators’ cadre in Kenya is not officially recognized (MOPHS, 2010). It is believed that providing DSME to persons with diabetes in rural areas can empower them to care for their chronic illness and maintain their optimal level of wellness (Evans, 2010; Maina et al., 2011). DSME increases patients’ knowledge, attitude towards the disease and adherence to the recommended treatment regimen (Maina et al., 2011). Some studies have documented that DSME leads to improved quality of life, (Nelson, 2011; Sanchez, 2011), fewer emergency department visits, reduced hospitalizations, decreased …show more content…
The long window period between the precipitation of symptoms due to hyperglycemia and the beginning of undiagnosed metabolic derangement (insulin resistance, glucose tolerance, and hyperinsulinemia) necessities the intervention of education programs. Diabetes education in Kenya, to name one country where awareness is growing, was started as a joint four-year partnership of the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), the Ministry of Health, and the Kenya Diabetes Management and Information Center. The burden of diabetes is recognized. Kenya is addressing the need for improvements through the launch of a National Diabetes Strategy in 2010 .This aims to prevent or delay the development of diabetes, improve the quality of life by reducing complications and premature mortality . Key interventions prioritize prevention, early detection and control. Hospital diabetic clinics have been established in the nine provinces but access remains a challenge due to travel distances. A Diabetes Education Programme has also been implemented for healthcare staff, Success of such strategies is dependent on their sustainability and local ownership, to date there has been little evaluation of the strategy so policy makers cannot make informed suggestions for
Communication is at the heart of who we are as human beings. It is our way of exchanging information; it also signifies our symbolic capability. These two functions reflect what James Carey characterized as the transmission and ritual views of communication, respectively. Carey recognized that communication serves an instrumental role (e.g. it helps one acquire knowledge) but it also fulfils a ritualistic function, one that reflects humans as members of a social community. Thus, communication can be defined as the symbolic exchange of shared meaning, and all communicative acts have both a transmission and a ritualistic component. (WHO)
In Kenya, The Health Sector Working Group Report (2012), dubbed …show more content…
Knowledge about diabetes mellitus was more in women. Regarding practice patterns only 36.5% of individual with knowledge about diabetic retinopathy, believed that if they controlled their blood sugar, they could avoid a visit to an ophthalmologist, compared with 55.5% with no knowledge (Rani et al, 2008). Many Kenyans with diabetes are elderly, have limited knowledge about diabetes, and they have poor attitudes and practices of the disease (Maina, Ndegwa, Njenga, & Muchemi, 2011). One cross sectional study revealed that the level of diabetes knowledge in all regions of Kenya is poor but worse in rural areas A shortage of nurses hinders effective teaching of diabetes self-management education (DSME) to patients (Gross et al., 2010)and the diabetes educators’ cadre in Kenya is not officially recognized (MOPHS, 2010). It is believed that providing DSME to persons with diabetes in rural areas can empower them to care for their chronic illness and maintain their optimal level of wellness (Evans, 2010; Maina et al., 2011). DSME increases patients’ knowledge, attitude towards the disease and adherence to the recommended treatment regimen (Maina et al., 2011). Some studies have documented that DSME leads to improved quality of life, (Nelson, 2011; Sanchez, 2011), fewer emergency department visits, reduced hospitalizations, decreased …show more content…
The long window period between the precipitation of symptoms due to hyperglycemia and the beginning of undiagnosed metabolic derangement (insulin resistance, glucose tolerance, and hyperinsulinemia) necessities the intervention of education programs. Diabetes education in Kenya, to name one country where awareness is growing, was started as a joint four-year partnership of the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), the Ministry of Health, and the Kenya Diabetes Management and Information Center. The burden of diabetes is recognized. Kenya is addressing the need for improvements through the launch of a National Diabetes Strategy in 2010 .This aims to prevent or delay the development of diabetes, improve the quality of life by reducing complications and premature mortality . Key interventions prioritize prevention, early detection and control. Hospital diabetic clinics have been established in the nine provinces but access remains a challenge due to travel distances. A Diabetes Education Programme has also been implemented for healthcare staff, Success of such strategies is dependent on their sustainability and local ownership, to date there has been little evaluation of the strategy so policy makers cannot make informed suggestions for