GAPS IN DOCTOR - PATIENT COMMUNICATION IN LAFIYA CLINIC AND PRIMARY HEALTHCARE CENTRE OF ATC - JALINGO, TARABA STATE

High-quality healthcare depends largely on effective doctor-patient communication, yet poor communication can result in misinterpretations, incorrect diagnoses, and unfavorable health outcomes. This study sought to investigate the communication gaps between doctors and patients. It explores the patients’ experiences of the gaps in doctor patient communication in Lafiya Clinic and Primary Healthcare Centre of ATC community, Jalingo Taraba State; it examines the impact of communication gap between doctors and patients as well as ascertains strategies that could bridge the communication gaps between medical professionals and patients. The study is anchored by Patient Centered Communication Theory, the theory emphasizes the importance of healthcare providers' communication styles and approaches that focus on the patient's unique needs, concerns, and experiences. The study is a qualitative one which used in-depth interviews with 10 patients, five from each clinic. The findings revealed inadequate explanations of diagnoses and treatments, lack of prompt attention to patients, lack of emotional support, and insufficient time with healthcare providers as primary communication gaps. Patients expressed concerns about not being heard, understood, and being kept for a long time before they could be attended to. Also, the study reveals that most of the patients do not understand English and Hausa which also compounds the communication problems. The researchers recommend the need for improved doctor-patient communication, giving prompt attention to patients, emphasizing clear explanations, emotional support, and patient-centered care to enhance patient satisfaction, trust, and quality healthcare outcomes in the selected clinics.