scholarly journals Access to CKD Care in Rural Communities of India: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Barriers and Facilitators

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tazeen Jafar ◽  
Chandrika Ramakrishnan ◽  
Oommen John ◽  
Abha Tewari ◽  
Benjamin Cobb ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a public health challenge globally, especially in lower- and middle- income countries. The implications of adverse social and economic consequences of CKD are particularly grave in a populous country like India where CKD risk factors like diabetes and hypertension are widely prevalent. Although with early detection and timely initiation of interventions CKD progression can be slowed, huge knowledge-practice gap exists. Moreover, factors that influence access to CKD care at the community level have not been studied previously. This study aimed to explore the experiences and views of key stakeholders to identify factors that influence access to CKD care in rural India. We also sought to discern the current practices and preparedness for CKD, understand the facilitators and barriers to CKD care, and feasibility and acceptability of mobile-technology based clinical decision support system (mCDSS) for CKD care in primary care.Methods Using 15 in-depth interviews and one focus group discussion (n=6), we aimed to explore the experiences and views of different stakeholdres from primary healthcare system in rural India. We employed Lévesque’s framework for access to care, and inductive and deductive approaches in the analysis. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Using QSR nVivio 11, coding and thematic analysis was undertaken.Results Our study identified barriers in relation to access to CKD care in rural India. Fore most among them was poor knowledge and lack of awareness to CKD among patients as well as primary care physicians. Health system-level barriers like shortages of skilled healthcare professionals and medicines, fragmented referrals pathways with inadequate follow up care were identified. Increasing awareness of CKD among healthcare providers and patients, provision of CKD related supplies, and a system-level approach to care coordination were key facilitators.Conclusions Lack of awareness and knowledge on CKD among primary care providers and patients, and unprepared primary care infrastructure are key barriers for access to CKD care in rural India. There is an urgent need to raise CKD awareness among primary care physicians and patients, improve supplies for diagnostics and medications, and create efficient referral pathways for CKD in primary care.

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Naghdi ◽  
Karen Seto ◽  
Carolyn Klassen ◽  
Didi Emokpare ◽  
Brian Conway ◽  
...  

Background and Aim. Despite advances in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection (CHC), it remains a major public health problem in Canada and globally. The knowledge of healthcare providers (HCPs) is critical to improve the care of CHC in Canada. To assess the current knowledge and educational needs of healthcare providers (HCPs) in the area of CHC management a national online survey was conducted. Method. An interprofessional steering committee designed a 29-question survey distributed through various direct and electronic routes. The survey assessed several domains (e.g., participant and practice demographics, access to resources, knowledge of new treatments, and educational preferences). Results. A total of 163 HCPs responded to the survey. All hepatologists and 8% of primary care providers (PCPs) reported involvement in treatment of CHC. Physicians most frequently screened patients who had abnormal liver enzymes, while nurses tended to screen based on lifestyle factors. More than 70% of PCPs were not aware of new medications and their mechanisms. Conclusion. Overall, the needs assessment demonstrated that there was a need for further education, particularly for primary care physicians, to maximize the role that they can play in screening, testing, and treatment of hepatitis C in Canada.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 239920262092250
Author(s):  
Natalie Kennie-Kaulbach ◽  
Rachel Cormier ◽  
Olga Kits ◽  
Emily Reeve ◽  
Anne Marie Whelan ◽  
...  

Background: Deprescribing is a complex process requiring consideration of behavior change theory to improve implementation and uptake. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors that influence deprescribing for primary healthcare providers (family physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), and pharmacists) within Nova Scotia using the Theoretical Domains Framework version 2 (TDF(v2)) and the Behavior Change Wheel. Methods: Interviews and focus groups were completed with primary care providers (physicians, NPs, and pharmacists) in Nova Scotia, Canada. Coding was completed using the TDF(v2) to identify the key influencers. Subdomain themes were also identified for the main TDF(v2) domains and results were then linked to the Behavior Change Wheel—Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation components. Results: Participants identified key influencers for deprescribing including areas related to Opportunity, within TDF(v2) domain Social Influences, such as patients and other healthcare providers, as well as Physical barriers (TDF(v2) domain Environmental Context and Resources), such as lack of time and reimbursement. Conclusion: Our results suggest that a systematic approach to deprescribing in primary care should be supported by opportunities for patient and healthcare provider collaborations, as well as practice and system level enhancements to support sustainability of deprescribing practices.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. e033791
Author(s):  
Ngiap Chuan Tan ◽  
Agnes Koong Ying Leng ◽  
Ian Phoon Kwong Yun ◽  
Sinead Wang Zhen ◽  
Muthulakshmi Paulpandi ◽  
...  

IntroductionPatient decision-aids (PDAs) support patients in selecting evidence-based treatment options. PDA is useful only if the user understands the content to make personalised decisions. Cultural adaptation is a process of adjusting health messages so that the information is accurate, relevant and understandable to users from a different population. A PDA has been developed to assist Malaysian patients with secondary drug failure to initiate insulin therapy to control their type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Likewise, patients with T2DM in neighbouring Singapore face similar barriers in commencing insulin treatment, which a PDA may facilitate decision-making in selecting personalised therapy.ObjectiveThe study aimed to explore the views and perceptions of Singaporean primary care providers on the Malaysia PDA to initiate insulin therapy and described the cultural adaptation process used in the design and development of a new PDA, which would be trialled in a Singapore primary healthcare institution.MethodQualitative research method was deployed to conduct one-to-one in-depth interviews of the healthcare providers at the trial site (SingHealth Polyclinics—SHP), including six primary care physicians and four nurses to gather their views and feedbacks on the Malaysian PDA. The interviews were transcribed, audited and analysed (standard content analysis) to identify themes relating to the content, layout, concerns of the original PDA and suggestions to the design of the new SHP PDA.ResultsCultural adaptation of the new PDA includes change to the overall design, graphics (including pictograms), presentation styles, additional contextualised content (personalisation, subheadings, cost and treatment option), modified phrasing of the subtitles and concerns (choice of words) relevant to the new users.ConclusionA PDA on insulin therapy underwent cultural adaptation before its implementation in another population in a neighbouring country. Its relevance and effectiveness will be evaluated in future research.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352110077
Author(s):  
Daliah Wachs ◽  
Victoria Lorah ◽  
Allison Boynton ◽  
Amanda Hertzler ◽  
Brandon Nichols ◽  
...  

The purpose of this study was to explore patient perceptions of primary care providers and their offices relative to their physician’s philosophy (medical degree [MD] vs doctorate in osteopathic medicine [DO]), specialty (internal medicine vs family medicine), US region, and gender (male vs female). Using the Healthgrades website, the average satisfaction rating for the physician, office parameters, and wait time were collected and analyzed for 1267 physicians. We found female doctors tended to have lower ratings in the Midwest, and staff friendliness of female physicians were rated lower in the northwest. In the northeast, male and female MDs were rated more highly than DOs. Wait times varied regionally, with northeast and northwest regions having the shortest wait times. Overall satisfaction was generally high for most physicians. Regional differences in perception of a physician based on gender or degree may have roots in local culture, including proximity to a DO school, comfort with female physicians, and expectations for waiting times.


2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 190-195
Author(s):  
Joanna Gedzior ◽  
Arlen Kwong

In August 2016, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, issued a letter to healthcare providers requesting aid in addressing “an urgent health crisis facing America: the opioid epidemic.” In this article, we address some of the more poignant challenges that surface in treating patients with opiate addiction. We provide an outline of recommendations from the leading medical organizations to educate primary care providers on how to navigate patients to decreased or discontinued medication loads.


Vascular ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 170853812110443
Author(s):  
Sultan Alsheikh ◽  
Hesham AlGhofili ◽  
Omar A Alayed ◽  
Abdulkareem Aldrak ◽  
Kaisor Iqbal ◽  
...  

Introduction Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD) are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of the recommended target levels of blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glycosylated hemoglobin A1C, and knowledge and attitude about PAD risk reduction therapies among physicians working in primary care settings in Saudi Arabia. Methods This observational cross-sectional study included family medicine consultants, residents, and general practitioners working in a health cluster in the capital city of Saudi Arabia using a self-administered questionnaire. Results Of the 129 physicians who completed the survey, 55% had completed PAD-related continuing medical education hours within the past 2 years. Despite this, the knowledge score of the recommended target levels was high in only 13.2% of the participants. Antiplatelet therapy was prescribed by 68.2% of the participants. Conclusion Here we identified the knowledge and action gaps among primary care providers in Saudi Arabia. Physicians had an excellent attitude about screening for and counseling about risk factors. However, they showed less interference in reducing these risk factors. We recommend addressing these knowledge gaps early in medical school and residency programs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabienne N. Jaeger ◽  
Nicole Pellaud ◽  
Bénédicte Laville ◽  
Pierre Klauser

Abstract Background The aim of this nationwide study was to investigate barriers to adequate professional interpreter use and to describe existing initiatives and identify key factors for successful interpreter policies in primary care, using Switzerland as a case study. Methods Adult and paediatric primary care providers were invited to participate in an online cross-sectional questionnaire-based study. All accredited regional interpreter agencies were contacted first by email and, in the absence of a reply, by mail and then by phone. Local as well as the national health authorities were asked about existing policies. Results 599 primary care physicians participated. Among other reasons, physicians identified cumbersome organization (58.7%), absent financial coverage (53.7%) and lack of knowledge on how to arrange interpreter interventions (44%) as main barriers. The odds of organising professional interpreters were 6.6-times higher with full financial coverage. Some agencies confirmed difficulties providing professional interpreters for certain languages at a timely manner. Degrees of coverage of professional interpreter costs (full coverage to none) and organization varied between regions resulting in different levels of unmet needs. Conclusions Professional interpreter use can be improved through the following points: increase awareness and knowledge of primary care providers on interpreter use and organization, ensure financial coverage, as well as address organizational aspects. Examples of successful interventions exist.


Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Beverly ◽  
Marilyn D. Ritholz ◽  
Karie Cook ◽  
Lesli K. Johnson ◽  
Anirudh Ruhil ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Southeastern Appalachian Ohio has more than double the national average of diabetes and a critical shortage of healthcare providers. Paradoxically, there is limited research focused on primary care providers’ experiences treating people with diabetes in this region. This study explored providers’ perceived barriers to and facilitators for treating patients with diabetes in southeastern Appalachian Ohio. Methods: We conducted in-depth interviews with healthcare providers who treat people with diabetes in rural southeastern Ohio. Interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed via content and thematic analyses using NVivo 12 software (QSR International, Chadstone, VIC, Australia). Results: Qualitative analysis revealed four themes: (1) patients’ diabetes fatalism and helplessness: providers recounted story after story of patients believing that their diabetes was inevitable and that they were helpless to prevent or delay diabetes complications. (2) Comorbid psychosocial issues: providers described high rates of depression, anxiety, incest, abuse, and post-traumatic stress disorder among people with diabetes in this region. (3) Inter-connected social determinants interfering with diabetes care: providers identified major barriers including lack of access to providers, lack of access to transportation, food insecurity, housing insecurity, and financial insecurity. (4) Providers’ cultural understanding and recommendations: providers emphasized the importance of understanding of the values central to Appalachian culture and gave culturally attuned clinical suggestions for how to use these values when working with this population. Conclusions: Evidence-based interventions tailored to Appalachian culture and training designed to increase the cultural competency and cultural humility of primary care providers may be effective approaches to reduce barriers to diabetes care in Appalachian Ohio.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Zampino ◽  
Nicolina Capoluongo ◽  
Adriana Boemio ◽  
Margherita Macera ◽  
Martina Vitrone ◽  
...  

Aims. This study is aimed at assessing the efficacy of an active search and treat strategy for HBV-infected subjects in an endemic area (Campania, Italy). To do this, we created a cooperation bundle between 24 General Practitioners (GPs) and 3 Hospital Liver Units (HLU). We assessed whether this strategy improved the detection of HBV infection in patients at risk and the overall quality of care, with the aim of reducing liver disease progression. Methods. We estimated that, among about 20,000 patients cared for by the 24 GPs, approximately 280 patients unaware of or underestimating HBV infection would be found. Identified patients were to be referred to the HLU for clinical evaluation and treatment from February 2016 for 12 months. Results. Unexpectedly, screening and enrolment were poor (48 patients only). GP workloads, patient financial difficulties, and patients' refusal were the major causes of enrolment failure according to GPs. All patients referred to HLU completed the program; most of them were HBV inactive carriers. Conclusions. This program failed to scavenge chronic HBV-infected patients in an endemic area and establish a successful clinical collaboration between GPs and HLU. Underlying reasons are diverse and call for new strategies to implement cooperation between primary care providers and hospital specialists.


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