The study by Sumaylo (2013) aimed at understanding the mode of information delivery by the Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) in the implementation of health services at the Barangay Health Center in Barangay Dawis, Digos City in the Philippines. The central problem of the study was information delivery, and this study relates to health communication because it aims at establishing the effectiveness of communication tools used such as face-to-face interaction. The study adopted a qualitative research design with Barangay as the case, and survey and interviews as the main data collection techniques. Information was collected from two groups of study participants, and it was later triangulated to come up with more credible evidence. However, triangulation would have been enhanced if it would have involved higher-level health professionals such as the health managers and administrators at the City Office, or other higher level professionals in the Province or Central Office, because they are largely involved in developing strategies delivery of information to clients.
The study findings indicated that face-to-face interaction was the salient mode of information delivery at the Barangay Health Center. The BHWs used fear and technology to deliver information despite the fact these were not reflected in the Interpersonal Communication and Counseling Manual. The study suggests that communication breakdown occurred along the top-down approach flow of information, and this breakdown was attributed to communication noise, inappropriateness and/or unavailability of external communication tools, faulty assumptions of the Department of Health’s Interpersonal Communication and Counseling Manual, and lack of training on the proper use of metaphors and analogies in folk beliefs. This article targets policy and decision makers in the health care sector, and those with the responsibility of developing health information that should be delivered to the patients at the grassroots level. The article intends to inform them of the effectiveness/ineffectiveness of communication tools in the delivery of health-related information. These findings are meant to highlight evident gaps that need to be addressed by enhancing the mode of health information delivery.
The ideas in this article are arranged in a logical sequence, but poor language and format of the article affect its quality (Sumalyo, 2013). Barangay was chosen purposefully, and the article has clearly pointed out the justification for this selection (p. 88). This study, however, cannot be generalized to represent the health care implementation situation in the Philippines. This is a case study that is only applicable to Barangay because of regional differences attributed to variation in environmental, social and economic factors. Nonetheless, the case is a detailed and actual representation of the situation in Barangay on implementation of health care programs by BHWs through dissemination of information. Despite the fact that the study does not represent the whole of the Philippines, sampling of respondents has been done accurately, but details of data analysis are not adequately outlined.
Health communication is the main mode of implementing health interventions in the Philippines. However, the study showed that various factors distort the top-down flow of information. Hence, necessary changes are required to enhance effectiveness in the provision of health services at the grassroots. The urge to reinforce the delivery of information leads to enhanced communication tools by the BHWs such as text messaging and instilling fear, probably by emphasizing the consequences of poor health practices. Health communication enables BHWs to collect information on the needs of the Barangayans, and this information is used by decision and policy makers to develop appropriate health intervention programs. Reference to the current study, information collected aims at improving delivery of information to the grassroots level.
Reference
Sumalyo, D. J. (2013). Information Delivery in the provision of Barangay Health Services in Barangay Dawis, Digos City, Philippines. Journal of Asia Pacific Studies, 3(1), 86-109.