scholarly journals Cultural barriers in access to healthcare services for people with disability in Iran: A qualitative study

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 293-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahin Soltani ◽  
Amirhossein Takian ◽  
Ali Akbari Sari ◽  
Reza Majdzadeh ◽  
Mohammad Kamali
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
People With Disability

scholarly journals Understanding Barriers to the Access to Healthcare and Rehabilitation Services: A Qualitative Study with Mothers or Female Caregivers of Children with a Disability in Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 11546
Author(s):  
Gregorius Abanit Asa ◽  
Nelsensius Klau Fauk ◽  
Lillian Mwanri ◽  
Paul Russell Ward
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Rehabilitation Services ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
God's Will ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
Rehabilitation Centers

Accessibility to healthcare and rehabilitation services for children with a disability (CWD) is essential to improving their health and wellbeing. However, access to the services, especially in many settings in developing countries with scarcity of resources, is still limited. As part of a qualitative study exploring impacts of caring for CWD on mothers or female caregivers and their coping strategies, this paper describes barriers for access to healthcare and rehabilitation services for CWD in Belu district, Indonesia. One-on-one, in-depth interviews were conducted with 22 mothers or female caregivers of CWD. Participants were recruited using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling techniques. These were supplemented with interviews with two staff of disability rehabilitation centers in Belu to understand any additional barriers. Data analysis was guided by a qualitative data analysis framework. Our analysis identified that lack of affordability of healthcare services (high costs and low financial capacity of mothers) was the key barrier for access to healthcare and rehabilitation services CWD. Religious or faith-based factors, such as being a non-Catholic (Belu is predominantly Catholic), converting from Catholic to other religions, and the belief in children’s disability condition as “God’s will”, were also influencing factors for lack of access to the services. Shortage of staff, distrust in the therapy skills of staff at rehabilitation centers, and unavailability of appropriately trained healthcare professionals were structural or system-related barriers. The findings indicate the need for government-owned and run disability rehabilitation centers (not faith-based), the provision of fully subsidised health insurance to provide free services, and the provision of qualified therapists and healthcare professionals (to build trust) in Belu and other similar settings in Indonesia.

scholarly journals Perceptions about the accessibility of healthcare services among ethnic minority women: a qualitative study among Arab Bedouins in Israel

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Haneen Shibli ◽  
Limor Aharonson-Daniel ◽  
Paula Feder-Bubis
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Ethnic Minority ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Minority Women ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Gender Barriers ◽  
Values And Beliefs ◽  
Accessibility Issues ◽  
And Gender

Abstract Background Access to healthcare services has major implications for vulnerable populations’ health. Socio-cultural and gender characteristics shape the utilization and access of healthcare services among ethnic minorities worldwide. One such vulnerable ethnic minority is the Arab Bedouin women in Israel. As women, they are marginalized in their community, where women do not have full equity and they experience multiple barriers to healthcare services The main objective of this study is to provide a nuanced, experiential, emic description of healthcare accessibility issues among Bedouin women in Israel. Identifying the barriers, they face in accessing healthcare may help healthcare policymakers make changes based on and tailored to Bedouin women’s needs. Methods A qualitative study included in-depth semi-structured interviews with 21 Arab Bedouin village residents, consisting of 14 women and 7 men. Eligible participants were Arab Bedouins over 18 years of age and who used healthcare services at least once in the last 5 years. The interviews were carried out in Arabic-Bedouin dialect and included demographic questions, open-ended questions that asked about participants’ perceptions regarding their experiences with healthcare services, including the factors that helped and hindered them in accessing these services and questions regarding suggestions for improving the accessibility of healthcare services based on the identified needs. Data collected were analyzed using thematic analysis. Study trustworthiness was ensured using audit, reflexivity, and peer debriefing. Results Arab Bedouin women experienced varied barriers while accessing healthcare services. This study uncovered how language, cultural and gender barriers intersect with other disadvantages ingrained in social norms, values and beliefs and affect the access of a minority women subgroup to healthcare services. The participants identified subgroups of Bedouin women (e.g. elderly Bedouin women) affected differently by these barriers. Conclusion Taking into consideration the identified needs and the Arab Bedouin women’s unique characteristics, along with adopting the intersectional approach should help improve access to healthcare services among such a vulnerable subgroup and other subgroups within minorities worldwide.

scholarly journals Health insurance and health system (un) responsiveness: a qualitative study with elderly in rural Tanzania

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Joseph Amani ◽  
Anna-Karin Hurtig ◽  
Gasto Frumence ◽  
Angwara Denis Kiwara ◽  
Isabel Goicolea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Continuous Training ◽  
Rural Tanzania

Abstract Background Health insurance (HI) has increasingly been accepted as a mechanism to facilitate access to healthcare in low and middle-income countries. However, health insurance members, especially those in Sub-Saharan Africa, have reported a low responsiveness in health systems. This study aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions of healthcare services from the perspective of insured and uninsured elderly in rural Tanzania. Method An explanatory qualitative study was conducted in the rural districts of Igunga and Nzega, located in western-central Tanzania. Eight focus group discussions were carried out with 78 insured and uninsured elderly men and women who were purposely selected because they were 60 years of age or older and had utilised healthcare services in the past 12 months prior to the study. The interview questions were inspired by the domains of health systems’ responsiveness. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data. Results Elderly participants appreciated that HI had facilitated the access to healthcare and protected them from certain costs. But they also complained that HI had failed to provide equitable access due to limited service benefits and restricted use of services within schemes. Although elderly perspectives varied widely across the domains of responsiveness, insured individuals generally expressed dissatisfaction with their healthcare. Conclusions The national health insurance policy should be revisited in order to improve its implementation and expand the scope of service coverage. Strategic decisions are required to improve the healthcare infrastructure, increase the number of healthcare workers, ensure the availability of medicines and testing facilities at healthcare centers, and reduce long administrative procedures related to HI. A continuous training plan for healthcare workers focused on patients´ communication skills and care rights is highly recommended.

scholarly journals Access to Healthcare for Immigrant Children in Canada

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 3320
Author(s):  
Bukola Salami ◽  
Alleson Mason ◽  
Jordana Salma ◽  
Sophie Yohani ◽  
Maryam Amin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Social Determinant ◽  
Immigrant Children ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Cultural Barriers ◽  
Immigrant Parents ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
The University

Immigrants experience poorer health outcomes than nonimmigrants in Canada for several reasons. A central contributing factor to poor health outcomes for immigrants is access to healthcare. Previous research on access to healthcare for immigrants has largely focused on the experience of immigrant adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate how immigrants access health services for their children in Alberta, Canada. Our study involved a descriptive qualitative design. Upon receiving ethics approval from the University of Alberta Research Ethics Board, we invited immigrant parents to participate in this study. We interviewed 50 immigrant parents, including 17 fathers and 33 mothers. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed according to the themes that emerged. Findings reveal that systemic barriers contributed to challenges in accessing healthcare for immigrant children. Participants identified several of these barriers—namely, system barriers, language and cultural barriers, relationship with health professionals, and financial barriers. These barriers can be addressed by policymakers and service providers by strengthening the diversity of the workforce, addressing income as a social determinant of health, and improving access to language interpretation services.

scholarly journals To Volunteer or Not? Perspectives towards Pre-Registered Nursing Students Volunteering Frontline during COVID-19 Pandemic to Ease Healthcare Workforce: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 6668
Author(s):  
Betsy Seah ◽  
Ben Ho ◽  
Sok Ying Liaw ◽  
Emily Neo Kim Ang ◽  
Siew Tiang Lau
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Students ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Professional Identity ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Strategic Partnerships ◽  
Healthcare Workforce ◽  
Student Volunteer ◽  
Operational Processes

COVID-19 has caused a shortage of healthcare workers and has strained healthcare systems globally. Pre-registered healthcare students with training have a duty of care and can support the healthcare workforce. This study explored factors influencing the willingness of final-year nursing students to volunteer during the COVID-19 pandemic, the role of professional identity in volunteering as healthcare workers, and strategies to improve future volunteering uptakes and processes. A qualitative study using focus-group discussions was conducted. Final-year nursing students who volunteered, students who did not volunteer, and lecturers who supervised student volunteers were recruited. Interviews were conducted online, video-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis was used. The themes were “wavering thoughts on volunteering”, “bringing out ‘the nurse’ in students through volunteering” and “gearing up to volunteer”. Findings suggested the need to look beyond the simplicity of altruism to the role of professional identity, operational, and motivational factors to explain nursing students’ decision to volunteer and their volunteer behavior. Providing accommodation, monetary and academic-related incentives, supporting the transitionary phase from students to “professional volunteers”, promoting cohesive and positive staff–student volunteer relationships, and establishing a volunteer management team are strategies identified to improve volunteering uptake and operational processes. Our findings advocate strategic partnerships between hospitals/communities and academic institutions in providing various healthcare services during pandemics.

scholarly journals Use of symptom checkers for COVID-19-related symptoms among university students: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjinnov-2020-000498
Author(s):  
Stephanie Aboueid ◽  
Samantha B Meyer ◽  
James R Wallace ◽  
Shreya Mahajan ◽  
Teeyaa Nur ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Positive Experience ◽  
Perceived Credibility ◽  
Inductive Thematic Analysis

ObjectiveSymptom checkers are potentially beneficial tools during pandemics. To increase the use of the platform, perspectives of end users must be gathered. Our objectives were to understand the perspectives and experiences of young adults related to the use of symptom checkers for assessing COVID-19-related symptoms and to identify areas for improvement.MethodsWe conducted semistructured qualitative interviews with 22 young adults (18–34 years of age) at a university in Ontario, Canada. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.ResultsWe identified six main themes related to the decision of using a symptom checker for COVID-19 symptoms: (1) presence of symptoms or a combination of symptoms, (2) knowledge about COVID-19 symptoms, (3) fear of seeking in-person healthcare services, (4) awareness about symptom checkers, (5) paranoia and (6) curiosity. Participants who used symptom checkers shared by governmental entities reported an overall positive experience. Individuals who used non-credible sources reported suboptimal experiences due to lack of perceived credibility. Five main areas for improvement were identified: (1) information about the creators of the platform, (2) explanation of symptoms, (3) personalised experience, (4) language options, and (5) option to get tested.ConclusionsThis study suggests an increased acceptance of symptom checkers due to the perceived risks of infection associated with seeking in-person healthcare services. Symptom checkers have the potential to reduce the burden on healthcare systems and health professionals, especially during pandemics; however, these platforms could be improved to increase use.

scholarly journals Global Perspective on Telemedicine for Parkinson’s Disease

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Ali Shalash ◽  
Meredith Spindler ◽  
Esther Cubo
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Multidisciplinary Care ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Sensitive Information ◽  
Personal Connection ◽  
Healthcare Needs ◽  
Neurological Exam

Telemedicine programs are particularly suited to evaluating patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other movement disorders, primarily because much of the physical exam findings are visual. Telemedicine uses information and communication technologist to overcome geographical barriers and increase access to healthcare services, and it is particularly beneficial for rural and underserved communities, groups that traditionally suffer from lack of access to healthcare. There is a growing evidence of the feasibility of telemedicine, cost and time savings, patients’ and physicians’ satisfaction, and its outcome and impact on patients’ morbidity and quality of life. In addition, given the unusual current situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine has offered the opportunity to address the ongoing healthcare needs of patients with PD, to reduce in-person clinic visits, and human exposures (among healthcare workers and patients) to a range of infectious diseases including COVID-19. However, there are still several challenges to widespread implementation of telemedicine including the limited performance of parts of the neurological exam, limited technological savvy, fear of loss of a personal connection, or uneasiness about communicating sensitive information. On the other hand, while we are facing the new wave of COVID-19 pandemic, patients and clinicians are gaining increasing experience with telemedicine, facilitating equity of access to specialized multidisciplinary care for PD. This article summarizes and reviews the current state and future directions of telemedicine from a global perspective.

Health needs of Gypsy Travellers

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 681-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrice Van Cleemput
Keyword(s):  
Ethnic Group ◽  
Health Inequality ◽  
Inverse Relationship ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Access To Healthcare ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Specific Health

Gypsy Travellers have the poorest health of any ethnic group in the population; they also have an inverse relationship between their health needs and access to healthcare services. This article aims to explain the reasons for such stark health inequality, to identify the specific health needs of Gypsy Travellers, and to describe the role of the GP in meeting those needs.

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