Health Communication Ethics From the Perspectives of the Patient and the Health Practitioners in Ghana

ABSTRACT Objective This study examined ethical challenges in patient–provider communication within Ghana's healthcare system, with particular attention to confidentiality, provider rudeness, and truth‐telling dilemmas in clinical disclosure. Setting The study was conducted in two public hospitals in northern Ghana that serve diverse patient populations and operate within resource‐constrained healthcare environments. Participants Fifteen participants were purposively recruited, comprising eight healthcare providers and seven patients drawn from Tamale Central and Tamale West Hospitals. Design This study employed a qualitative research design using semi‐structured interviews and theoretically informed thematic analysis. The analysis was guided by deontological and consequentialist ethical frameworks to interpret recurring ethical issues in patient–provider communication. Results Three interrelated themes emerged from the data. First, participants described breaches and tensions surrounding confidentiality and the management of sensitive patient information. Second, patients reported experiences of provider rudeness, dismissive conduct, and poor interpersonal engagement, which undermined trust and discouraged open communication. Third, the study identified truth‐telling dilemmas in clinical disclosure, particularly where serious diagnoses, emotional distress, and family involvement complicated decisions about when, how, and to whom health information should be communicated. Across these themes, ethical communication was shown to be shaped not only by professional values but also by institutional pressures, hierarchical role boundaries, and the relational demands of care. Conclusion Ethical communication is central to patient‐centred care and to the moral legitimacy of healthcare delivery. The findings show that confidentiality, respectful interpersonal conduct, and ethically sensitive disclosure practices are critical to sustaining trust, protecting patient dignity, and improving care outcomes. The study recommends strengthening communication ethics training, clarifying disclosure guidelines for sensitive health information, and embedding accountability mechanisms that support ethically grounded patient–provider interaction in Ghana's healthcare system.