Influencing Hospital Employee Communication Behaviors for Desirable Maternal Health Outcomes in Ghana: An Extension of the Microboundary Spanning Theory

ABSTRACT

Strategic internal communication management in healthcare settings may improve maternal care and maternal health outcomes, especially in low-income countries. The study examines how hospital internal communication managers in Ghana strategically influence employee communication behaviors for positive maternal health outcomes using the microboundary spanning theory. Twenty-three hospital internal communication managers were interviewed. Findings reveal that strategies hospital internal communication managers use to influence employee communication behaviors and enhance positive patient-provider communication include employee training programs, provision of timely information, maintaining open lines of communication, provision of essential resources, monitoring and informal surveys, utilizing the grapevine, organizing pregnancy schools and use of infographics produced in multiple Ghanaian languages. The study demonstrates that positive employee megaphoning and scouting behaviors can have financial and prosocial benefits, including enhancing patient healthcare experiences, encouraging women to seek maternal care, and ultimately improving maternal health outcomes. Finally, the study extends the microboundary spanning theory to include employee mandatory communication that occurs in healthcare settings and is the first such study to be conducted in Ghana.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).