Analysing the Impact of Ineffective Internal Communication on Healthcare Delivery in Tanzanian Health Institutions

Efficiency in health care delivery depends largely on the effectiveness of internal communication. Similar to the lifeblood in the human body, internal communication controls all the input, and output processes within healthcare systems. Even with the clear importance of internal communication, many healthcare institutions continue to struggle with inefficiencies in the sharing of information. However, in Tanzania, little is known about the impacts of various communication blockades within health institutions. Thus, this study analysed the impacts of ineffective internal communication in the delivery of healthcare services. This study was carried out in five hospitals; involving a mix of both government and private health institutions in Dar es Salaam-Tanzania. The study administered semi-structured interviews to 20 respondents, targeting managers and employees to gather detailed attitudes and experiences related to workplace communication. Data generated from interviews were transcribed and coded using NVivo 15 software. A document review was also conducted to support the analysis, and themes were formed to address the potential gaps in the study. The research findings revealed that ineffective communication practices led to delays of services, conflicts, discouragement of workers' ambitions, frustrations of workers, false accusations and wrong decisions, poor work performance, employee turnover, and loss of money within healthcare institutions. Recognising these facts, the findings highlight the essence of reciprocity in information sharing, and establishing responsive behaviour to cultivate a smooth flow of information in health institutions.