Patient-centred care: reality or rhetoric—patients’ experiences at ARV clinics located in public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Abstract Background The South African public antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme is considered one of the largest and most successful ART programmes worldwide. Hence, a study exploring the patients’ experiences of the public antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme in the second decade of the progr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-09-01
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| Series: | AIDS Research and Therapy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-022-00463-2 |
| _version_ | 1818064859426717696 |
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| author | Delarise M. Mulqueeny Myra Taylor |
| author_facet | Delarise M. Mulqueeny Myra Taylor |
| author_sort | Delarise M. Mulqueeny |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The South African public antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme is considered one of the largest and most successful ART programmes worldwide. Hence, a study exploring the patients’ experiences of the public antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme in the second decade of the programme is relevant as no study has been published on patients’ experiences at these sites. Objectives To explore patients’ experiences of care in the public ART programme at four ARV clinics within the eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal. Method A mixed-methods study design with 12 in-depth patient interviews, non-participatory observation, and a stratified random sample of 400 patients completed questionnaires. Qualitative data were thematically analysed. Quantitative data were analysed using a SPSS 24 package to determine frequencies and differences in patients’ responses (p < 0.05). The socio-ecological model framed the study. Results All 412 patients reported valuing the provision of free ARVs. Patients’ positive experiences included: routine blood results mostly being available, most staff greeted patients, there were sufficient nurses, patients were satisfied with the time that they spent with doctors, clean clinics, and private and safe counselling areas. The negative experiences included: poor relationships with nurses, negative staff attitudes, disrespectful staff, information was lacking, inadequate counselling at times, varying and inflexible appointments, challenges with data capture and registration systems; varying ARV collection frequencies, routine health tests and processes per site, and the absence of patient committees and representatives. Conclusion The results reflected positive and negative experiences which varied between the facilities, as processes and systems differed at each site. Innovative patient-centred processes and programmes could be implemented to ensure patients have mostly positive experiences. As part of continuous improvement, patients’ experiences should be regularly explored to ensure that the ART programme meets their needs and expectations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T14:42:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-803510ddcaab48859fcbacff6bf7671f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1742-6405 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T14:42:41Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AIDS Research and Therapy |
| spelling | doaj.art-803510ddcaab48859fcbacff6bf7671f2022-12-22T01:44:39ZengBMCAIDS Research and Therapy1742-64052022-09-0119111210.1186/s12981-022-00463-2Patient-centred care: reality or rhetoric—patients’ experiences at ARV clinics located in public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaDelarise M. Mulqueeny0Myra Taylor1Department of Social Work, Faculty of Arts, University of ZululandDiscipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, Howard College, University of KwaZulu-NatalAbstract Background The South African public antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme is considered one of the largest and most successful ART programmes worldwide. Hence, a study exploring the patients’ experiences of the public antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme in the second decade of the programme is relevant as no study has been published on patients’ experiences at these sites. Objectives To explore patients’ experiences of care in the public ART programme at four ARV clinics within the eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal. Method A mixed-methods study design with 12 in-depth patient interviews, non-participatory observation, and a stratified random sample of 400 patients completed questionnaires. Qualitative data were thematically analysed. Quantitative data were analysed using a SPSS 24 package to determine frequencies and differences in patients’ responses (p < 0.05). The socio-ecological model framed the study. Results All 412 patients reported valuing the provision of free ARVs. Patients’ positive experiences included: routine blood results mostly being available, most staff greeted patients, there were sufficient nurses, patients were satisfied with the time that they spent with doctors, clean clinics, and private and safe counselling areas. The negative experiences included: poor relationships with nurses, negative staff attitudes, disrespectful staff, information was lacking, inadequate counselling at times, varying and inflexible appointments, challenges with data capture and registration systems; varying ARV collection frequencies, routine health tests and processes per site, and the absence of patient committees and representatives. Conclusion The results reflected positive and negative experiences which varied between the facilities, as processes and systems differed at each site. Innovative patient-centred processes and programmes could be implemented to ensure patients have mostly positive experiences. As part of continuous improvement, patients’ experiences should be regularly explored to ensure that the ART programme meets their needs and expectations.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-022-00463-2Patient-centred careARTPatients experiencesKwaZulu-NatalPublic hospitals |
| spellingShingle | Delarise M. Mulqueeny Myra Taylor Patient-centred care: reality or rhetoric—patients’ experiences at ARV clinics located in public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa AIDS Research and Therapy Patient-centred care ART Patients experiences KwaZulu-Natal Public hospitals |
| title | Patient-centred care: reality or rhetoric—patients’ experiences at ARV clinics located in public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_full | Patient-centred care: reality or rhetoric—patients’ experiences at ARV clinics located in public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Patient-centred care: reality or rhetoric—patients’ experiences at ARV clinics located in public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patient-centred care: reality or rhetoric—patients’ experiences at ARV clinics located in public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_short | Patient-centred care: reality or rhetoric—patients’ experiences at ARV clinics located in public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| title_sort | patient centred care reality or rhetoric patients experiences at arv clinics located in public hospitals in kwazulu natal south africa |
| topic | Patient-centred care ART Patients experiences KwaZulu-Natal Public hospitals |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12981-022-00463-2 |
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