Drama as Information Medium on Health and Illness - Personal Characteristics as Patients’ Attitude Determinants

Oct 15, 2026

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The study investigates how drama functions as an information-dissemination medium to shape patients’ attitudes toward health and illness, focusing on variables such as age, gender, and educational level. Data were collected from ninety-five patients in a General Hospital, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, using the Patient-Medical Personnel Drama Scale (PMPDS) and the Attitude Towards Health and Illness Scale (ATHIS). Step-wise multiple regression shows drama’s communication role as most significant, with educational level significant in the second step, while age and gender are not notable.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Hospital care and patient depersonalization

Information dissemination and psychological/social skills

Prior research on drama variables

Advances in Language and Literary Studies ISSN: 2203-4714 [www.alls.aiac.org.au](www.alls.aiac.org.au) | Drama as Information Medium on Health and Illness: Personal Characteristics as Patients’Attitude Determinants
Nasir Taofiq Olaide1*, Akinboye Adeyinka Juliet1, Adeoye Aderemi Michael1, Aikomo Olayinka Olatunji2 1Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Nigeria, 2Federal, College of Education (Special) Oyo
Corresponding Author: Nasir Taofiq Olaide, E-mail: [nasir@fuoye.edu.ng](nasir@fuoye.edu.ng) | | | --- | --- | | ARTICLE INFO
Article history
Received: September 15, 2019
Accepted: November 03, 2019
Published: December 31, 2019
Volume: 10 Issue: 6
Advance access: December, 2019 Conflicts of interest: None
Funding: None
Key words:
Health,
Psychodrama, Information Dissemination, Hospital,
Atients, Illness, Applied Theatre | ABSTRACT
The study examined the contributions of drama as a means of disseminating information such as age, gender and educational level that are germane to patients’ attitude to health and illness. The subjects were ninety five patients of General Hospital, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State. They responded to the Patient-Medical Personnel Drama Scale (PMPDS) and the Attitude Towards Health and Illness Scale (ATHIS) . Step-wise multiple regression analysis was used for data analysis and the results revealed that drama, as a means of communication made the most significant contribution while educational level came up in step two.“Age” and “gender” did not make any noticeable contribution. The findings indicate that more attention should be paid to improve Patient-Medical Personnel Drama. | INTRODUCTION One of the most unsatisfactory aspects of hospital care by some accounts is the tendency, on the part of the medical staff, to treat the patient as an object rather than as a person, resulting in the individual feeling depersonalized, developing low self-esteem and sees himself as a victim of an event over which he has little or no control. Most medical staff, even though they have been trained in the technical aspects of life support, reported Korsch et al (1971; 121), often discovered that “they lack the psychological and social skills that are much more needed for the emotional support of the sick patient. In the hospital setting, of great concern is the issue of discovering the most acceptable and perhaps effective ways by which patients’ attitudes and behaviour could be influenced. In view of this, Richardson queries that how can people be helped to act spontaneously in ways that will benefit their own health and the health of others like the young and old for whom they may be responsible? In particular how can men and women be persuaded that it is in their best interest to have a periodic medical check-up? What is the most satisfactory way of bringing home to people the health risks involved in heavy smoking of cigarettes? How can adolescent be encouraged to develop a more negative attitude towards the taking of hard drugs? How can a child be helped to form positive attitudes to a painful but necessary operation or an old person be helped to maintain a positive attitude towards his own worth as a person when he believes that he is a burden to others? What attitudes do people have towards their own bodies and how are these attitudes related to post-operative reactions and to the most appropriate procedures of management to be employed by relatives, nurses, doctors and other medical personnel? (1967:2) It is surprising however, to note that most medical personnel lack the concepts and skills for dealing with the psychological and social problems associated with health and illness. The much sought after skill is information dissemination skill. Many medical personnel do not take the problems of information dissemination seriously. Supporting this position Ley (1974:1) noted that to some, the problem does not seem important because they see the human relations side of

FAQs

What does the study examine regarding drama and health?

The study examines drama as a means of disseminating information that is relevant to patients’ attitudes toward health and illness.

How were patients’ attitudes measured?

Patients responded to the Patient-Medical Personnel Drama Scale (PMPDS) and the Attitude Towards Health and Illness Scale (ATHIS).

Which factors significantly contributed to patients’ attitudes toward health and illness?

Drama as communication provided the most significant contribution, educational level was significant in step two, while age and gender showed no noticeable contribution.

Oct 15, 2026

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