scholarly journals Patients’ Shift from Public to Private Primary Health Care Providers in Lithuania: Analysis of the Main Reasons

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 004695802110603
Author(s):  
Paulius Žvinakis ◽  
Roberta Kalibataitė ◽  
Vytenis Kalibatas
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Family Physician ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Categorical Variables ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Family

Aims Lithuania is one of the countries where public and private primary health care (PHC) providers compete for patients. Patients continuously shift from public to PHC providers, but an analysis of the main reasons was never performed. This study aimed to analyze the reasons why patients shift from public to private PHC providers and identify the associations between the reasons and demographic characteristics of the patients. Methods A cross-sectional study based on a phone questionnaire was conducted among patients who shifted from public to private primary health care (PHC) providers. A total of 810 phone calls were made, and 572 telephone surveys were completed. The response rate was 70.49%. The difference between the proportions was assessed using the Z-test. The association between categorical variables was assessed using the chi-square test. Results The study identified the following main reasons: long queues to obtain family physician appointments (23.6%), inconvenient location of public’s institution department (20.1%), patients relocating (19.2%), enrolment at a former family physician who transitioned from a public to private PHC institution (10.5%), and long waiting time at the family physician’s office for the appointment (9.4%). Some statistically significant correlations were found between the specific reasons for shifting from public to private PHC organizations and patients' demographic characteristics. Conclusions Personal reasons are the most common reasons for shifting from public to private PHC providers (43.36% of the respondents), following the reasons related exclusively to the family physician (25.17%) and related PHC institutions only (24.9%).

Client characteristics and satisfaction with the quality of primary health-care services in Calabar, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
H. C. Okeke ◽  
P. Bassey ◽  
O. A. Oduwole ◽  
A. Adindu
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Client Satisfaction ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Client Characteristics ◽  
Study Objective ◽  
Primary Health

Different mix of clients visit primary health care (PHC) facilities, and the quality of services is critical even in rural communities. The study objective was to determine the relationship between socio-demographic characteristics and client satisfaction with the quality of PHC services in Calabar Municipality, Cross River State, Nigeria. Specifically to describe aspects of the health facilities that affect client satisfaction; determine the health-care providers’ attitude that influences client satisfaction; and determine the socio-demographic characteristics that influence client satisfaction with PHC services. A cross-sectional survey was adopted. Ten PHCs and 500 clients utilizing services in PHC centers in Calabar Municipality were randomly selected. Clients overall satisfaction with PHC services was high (80.8%). Divorced clients were less (75.0%) satisfied than the singles and the married counterparts (81%), respectively. Clients that were more literate as well as those with higher income were less satisfied, 68.0% and 50.0%, respectively, compared to the less educated and lower-income clients, 92.0% and 85.0% respectively. These differences in satisfaction were statistically significant (P = 0.001). Hence, it was shown that client characteristics such as income and literacy level show a significant negative relationship with the clients satisfaction with the quality of PHC services in Calabar Municipality.

scholarly journals A qualitative study on the implementation of Family Health Team: the perspectives of providers and patients

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ainul Nadziha Mohd Hanafiah ◽  
Mohammad Zabri Johari ◽  
Syafinas Azam
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Family Doctor ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Health Team ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Health Team

Abstract Background: Malaysia has committed to the global call to achieve universal health coverage, and with the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals, is further strengthening the health system through the primary health care services, particularly the family doctor concept. The Enhanced Primary Health Care (EnPHC) initiative was implemented to address the worrying upward trend of non-communicable disease[I1] prevalence, and incorporates the Family Health Team (FHT) concept. The aim of this paper is to describe the implementation of the FHT as part of the EnPHC intervention.Methods: In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with the intervention design team, healthcare providers and patients in two rounds during the implementation period. A total of 121 individuals in the two rounds, split into different groups, where some of the participants of the FGD were also interviewed individually[I2] . Data were analysed using a thematic analysis, with codes being organised into larger themes.Results: Themes that emerged from the data were around the process of FHT implementation and the advantages of the FHT, which included continuity of health care and improved quality of care. Patients and health care providers were receptive to the FHT concept, and took the effort to adapt the concept in the local settings. Conclusions: The FHT concept implemented at 20 public primary health clinics has benefits appreciated by health care providers and patients. Addressing the viable shortcomings would better prepare the current primary healthcare system to scale up the FHT concept nationwide and enhance its feasibility and sustainability.Trial registration: The study is registered with the National Medical Research Register, Ministry of Health Malaysia (NMRR-17-295-34771).

scholarly journals Traditional Healers of Nepal: Their Knowledge, Skill, Practices and Technology

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-15
Author(s):  
SM Prasad ◽  
BD Patel ◽  
B Shah ◽  
S Sapkota ◽  
NN Tiwari
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Traditional Healers ◽  
Demographic Characteristics ◽  
Medicinal Herbs ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Tools And Techniques

Background: Nepali people have been using traditional medicine since time immemorial. Majority of population (80%) depend upon traditional medicine for primary health care in rural area. However, documentation on status of traditional healers (THs) in Nepal is scanty. The purpose of this study was to analyze the status on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, skill, practices and technology of THs in Morang, Nuwakot, Myagdi, Surkhet and Kanchanpur districts of Nepal. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the districts from February to May 2014. Total of 105 THs were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. Data were summarized using frequency, percentages and tables. Responses on following topics were obtained: socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, skill, practices and technology. Results: In general, 73.9% of respondents were males with only 26.09% females. The greater proportion of (43.20%) THs were senior citizens above 46 years. Majorities (56.48%) of THs have been to primary school and were Hindu. Majority of THs (29.50%) were acquired the knowledge from traditional practitioners. Other sources of acquiring knowledge were family based apprenticeship, trainings and supernatural. History taking was used by 60.30% of THs for diagnosis of illness. Over forty five percent of THs had been practicing from 1-3 decades. THs (6.21%) of Morang and Surkhet consulted over 1000 clients per month. Most of THs (40.02%) used medicinal herbs as the means of healing. A total of 20% THs agreed referring complicated and unsuccessful clients to health institutions. THs used traditional tools and techniques to diagnose diseases. THs prescribed medicines prepared from medicinal herbs or in combination with minerals and animal byproducts. Conclusion: THs have acquired traditional medical knowledge, skill, practices and technology from their ancestors, colleagues, self-study, traditional teachers, training etc. THs use many traditional tools and techniques to diagnose diseases and treat clients by medicinal herbs. THs are the main source of primary health care providers for rural peoples. 

scholarly journals A qualitative study on the implementation of Family Health Team: the perspectives of providers and patients

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ainul Nadziha Mohd Hanafiah ◽  
Mohammad Zabri Johari ◽  
Syafinas Azam
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Family Doctor ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Health Team ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Family ◽  
Family Health Team

Abstract Background: Malaysia has committed to the global call to achieve universal health coverage, and with the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals, is further strengthening the health system through the primary health care services, particularly the family doctor concept (FDC). The Enhanced Primary Health Care (EnPHC) initiative was implemented to address the worrying upward trend of NCD prevalence, and incorporates the Family Health Team (FHT) concept. The aim of this paper is to describe the implementation of the FHT as part of the EnPHC intervention. Methods: In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with the intervention design team, healthcare providers and patients in two rounds during the implementation period. We explored their views on the design and plans for the intervention, the process, acceptance, adoption, feasibility and sustainability of the intervention, as well as patients’ awareness and understanding of the FHT implementation. Results: Themes that emerged from the data were around the process of FHT implementation and the advantages of the FHT, which included continuity of health care and improved quality of care. Patients and health care providers were receptive to the FHT concept, and took the effort to adapt the concept in the local settings. Conclusions: The FHT concept implemented at 20 public primary health clinics has benefits appreciated by HCPs and patients. Addressing the viable shortcomings would better prepare the current primary healthcare system to scale up the FHT concept nationwide and enhance its feasibility and sustainability. Trial registration: The study is registered with the National Medical Research Register, Ministry of Health Malaysia (NMRR-17-295-34771).

The Use of and Attitude Towards Telehealth in Rural Communities

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Mauldon
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Routine Practice ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Urban Hospital ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Rural Patients

This paper reports on the attitudes of a sample of health care providers towards the use of telehealth to support rural patients and integrate rural primary health and urban hospital care. Telehealth and other information technologies hold the promise of improving the quality of care for people in rural and remote areas and for supporting rural primary health care providers. While seemingly beneficial for rural patients, study participants believed that telehealth remains underused and poorly integrated into their practice. In general, participants thought that telehealth is potentially beneficial but places constraints on their activities, and few actually used it. Published literature usually reports either on the success of telehealth pilot projects or initiatives that are well resourced and do not reflect the constraints of routine practice, or has an international focus limiting its relevance to the Australian context. Because of the paucity of systematic and generalisable research into the effects of the routine use of telehealth to support rural patients, it is unclear why health care professionals choose to provide such services or the costs and benefits they incur in doing so. Research and policy initiatives continue to be needed to identify the impact of telehealth within the context of Australian primary health care and to develop strategies to support its use.

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