scholarly journals Effects of increased nurses’ workload on quality documentation of patient information at selected Primary Health Care facilities in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province

Curationis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhulani C. Shihundla ◽  
Rachel T. Lebese ◽  
Maria S. Maputle
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Patient Information ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Case Record ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Professional Nurses ◽  
Vhembe District

Background: Recording of information on multiple documents increases professional nurses’ responsibilities and workload during working hours. There are multiple registers and books at Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in which a patient’s information is to be recorded for different services during a visit to a health professional. Antenatal patients coming for the first visit must be recorded in the following documents: tick register; Prevention of Mother-ToChild Transmission (PMTCT) register; consent form for HIV and AIDS testing; HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) register (if tested positive for HIV and AIDS then this must be recorded in the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) wellness register); ART file with an accompanying single file, completion of which is time-consuming; tuberculosis (TB) suspects register; blood specimen register; maternity case record book and Basic Antenatal Care (BANC) checklist. Nurses forget to record information in some documents which leads to the omission of important data. Omitting information might lead to mismanagement of patients. Some of the documents have incomplete and inaccurate information. As PHC facilities in Vhembe District render twenty four hour services through a call system, the same nurses are expected to resume duty at 07:00 the following morning. They are expected to work effectively and when tired a nurse may record illegible information which may cause problems when the document is retrieved by the next person for continuity of care.Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate and describe the effects of increased nurses’ workload on quality documentation of patient information at PHC facilities in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province.Methods: The study was conducted in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, where the effects of increased nurses’ workload on quality documentation of information is currently experienced. The research design was explorative, descriptive and contextual in nature. The population consisted of all nurses who work at PHC facilities in Vhembe District. Purposive sampling was used to select nurses and three professional nurses were sampled from each PHC facility. An in-depth face-to-face interview was used to collect data using an interview guide.Results: PHC facilities encountered several effects due to increased nurses’ workload where incomplete patient information is documented. Unavailability of patient information was observed, whilst some documented information was found to be illegible, inaccurate and incomplete.Conclusion: Documentation of information at PHC facilities is an evidence of effective communication amongst professional nurses. There should always be active follow-up and mentoring of the nurses’ documentation to ensure that information is accurately and fully documented in their respective facilities. Nurses find it difficult to cope with the increased workload associated with documenting patient information on the multiple records that are utilized at PHC facilities, leading to incomplete information. The number of nurses at facilities should be increased to reduce the increased workload.Keywords: Effects; increased; professional nurses’; work-load; quality nursing documentation; patient information

scholarly journals Experiences of Professional Nurses Regarding the Implementation of a Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution Program at Primary Health Care Facilities in South Africa.

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 477-483
Author(s):  
Livhuwani Muthelo ◽  
Tshinanne Nemagumoni ◽  
Tebogo Maria Mothiba ◽  
Arthur Thabo Phukubje ◽  
Linneth Nkateko Mabila
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Professional Nurses

Background: The Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) program is a new program initiated by the Department of Health, South Africa to provide an alternative chronic medicine access program to public sector patients. The program is designed to improve access to required medicine, especially to patients who are on chronic medicines while assisting with the decongestion of public clinics. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the experiences of professional nurses regarding the implementation of the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution program. Methods: A qualitative descriptive, phenomenological and exploratory design research was conducted to determine the experiences of professional nurses regarding the implementation of the central chronic medicine dispensing and distribution program. Purposive sampling was used to select 15 professional nurses who participated in the study. Data were collected through a semi-structured one-on-one interview method, using a scheduled interview guide. The study was conducted in three Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, where professional nurses dispensed medicine to patients through the CCMDD programme. Data were analysed using Tesch’s method. Lincoln and Guba's four strategies were applied to ensure trustworthiness. Results: The findings of this study reveals that proffessional nurses in Vhembe experienced challenges with the implementation of the CCMDD program; such as late delivery of medication, lack of parcel tracking, patients receiving collection notification messages late, incorrect medication being issued to the patients, lack of pick up points in rural areas, and lack of patients’ data availability in the clinic facilities. Conclusion: South Africa is in the process of developing and implementing universal health care for all (National Health Insurance). The effective implementation of the CCMDD program should ensure equal access for all patients to their medication, in both rural and urban areas.

scholarly journals Experiences of nurses working in a rural primary health-care setting in Mopani district, Limpopo Province

Curationis ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
MP Mohale
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Health Care Setting ◽  
Health Care Settings ◽  
Primary Health Care Setting ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Professional Nurses ◽  
Primary Health Care Settings

Professional nurses working in rural, primary health-care settings are experiencing burnout due to serious shortages of personnel. This is exacerbated by the brain drain of nurses leaving the country. Rural settings are resource constrained in terms of personnel and equipment. This results in dissatisfaction among nurses due to the unbearable working conditions which result in stress and frustration. A qualitative, explorative, descriptive study was conducted to explore and describe the experiences of nurses working in a rural primary health-care setting in the greater Letaba sub district in Limpopo Province. Purposive sampling was used to identify the participants. Data was collected in the form of in-depth interviews. The study revealed that nurses working in primary health-care settings were experiencing emotional and physical strain as a result of the shortage of human resources. It was recommended that policies that meet the health-care needs of rural communities be developed, and that strategies to retain professional nurses in primary health-care settings be formulated.

scholarly journals Nurses’ Perceptions About Stock-outs of Essential Medicines at Primary Health Care Facilities in Vhembe District, South Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 550-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ogbodu Olubumni M ◽  
Maputle Maria S ◽  
Mabunda Jabu
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Essential Medicines ◽  
Generic Medicines ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Health Centres ◽  
Vhembe District ◽  
Primary Health Care Facilities

Background: The development of generic medicines that are cost-effective and affordable aims to facilitate improved availability of essential medicines to meet the health care needs of the majority of the population. However, these essential generic medicines are not regularly available at the community health centres and clinics. Aim: This study aimed to determine the perceptions of professional nurses regarding the status of stock-outs of generic medicines at primary health care health facilities in a selected province of South Africa. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in five primary health care facilities; three clinics and two health centres in Thulamela B municipality of Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive and contextual research design was used to obtain the perceptions of the participants. Thirteen professional nurses were purposively selected. Data were collected through face-to-face in-depth interviews until data saturation was reached. Data were analysed using Tesch’s open coding method. Results: Key findings showed that essential medicines were not always available, with the health centres reporting fewer stock-outs than clinics. The perceived major contributors to stock-outs were institutional inefficiency and practices by both health service providers and patients. Conclusion and Recommendations: The study concluded that primary health care facilities in rural communities still grapple with poor access to essential medicines due to poor availability. Therefore, the provision of sufficient funding for procurement, and training of inventory management practices were recommended. In addition, community public awareness campaigns to discourage patients’ self-medication and multiple consultations should be put in place.

scholarly journals WASH infrastructure and practices in primary health care clinics in the rural Vhembe District municipality in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Potgieter ◽  
N. T. Banda ◽  
P. J. Becker ◽  
A. N. Traore-Hoffman
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
World Health ◽  
Primary Health Care System ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Health Care Clinics ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Vhembe District

Abstract Background South Africa has unique and diverse social and economic factors that have an impact on the provision of basic water, sanitation, hygiene and waste management infrastructure and practices at health care facilities in ensuring patient safety and prevent the spread of diseases. Methods The aim of this study was to evaluate water, sanitation and hygiene access and standards at 50 government owned public health care clinics in the rural region of the Vhembe district of South Africa during 2016/2017, using self-observation, an observation checklist, record reviews and interviews with clinic managers. Water quality from all available water sources on the clinic compound was analysed for Total coliform and E. coli counts using the Colilert Quanti-tray/2000 system. The prevalence of pathogenic diarrhea causing E. coli strains was established using multiplex-Polymerase Chain Reaction. Results The health care clinics in the Vhembe District generally complied with the basic WASH services guidelines according to the World Health Organisation. Although 80% of the clinics used borehole water which is classified as an improved water source, microbiological assessment showed that 38% inside taps and 64% outside taps from the clinic compounds had TC counts higher than guideline limits for safe drinking. Similarly, EC counts above the guideline limit for safe drinking water were detected in 17% inside taps and 32% outside taps from the clinic compounds. Pathogenic EAEC, EPEC, ETEC and EHEC strains were isolated in the collected water samples. Although improved sanitation infrastructures were present in most of the clinics, the sanitary conditions of these toilets were not up to standard. Waste systems were not adequately managed. A total of 90% of the clinics had hand washing basins, while only 61% of the clinics had soap present and only 64% of the clinics had adequate signs and posters reminding the staff, care givers and patients to wash their hands. Conclusions Various WASH aspects within the primary health care system in South Africa needs to be improved and corrected. A more rigorous system that is inclusive of all role players in the WASH sectors, with regular monitoring and training sessions, should be used.

scholarly journals Knowledge and practices of supervisors on the performance management and development system at rural primary health care facilities in the Limpopo Province

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemary H. Mashego ◽  
Linda Skaal
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Development System ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Management And Development ◽  
Health Institutions

Background: The South African government has introduced Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) as a tool to monitor and manage the performances of health institutions, in order to improve service delivery within primary health care settings. The aim of the study was to determine the knowledge and practices of supervisors regarding PMDS in primary health institutions of the Limpopo Province.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive, quantitative study was used. A total of 117 participants were sampled using stratified random sampling technique and a questionnaire was used to collect data. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0 was used to analyse both descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: Generally all the respondents had an average (65.8%) understanding of the PMDS processes including the purpose and their roles as supervisors. However, a gap exists between the theoretical knowledge and the actual ability to practise PMDS which was found to be at 52%. There are areas of weakness that still need attention, such as unavailability of PMDS guidelines and lack of training of both supervisors and employees on PMDS.Conclusion: This study highlights the problem of lack of knowledge and skills, unavailability of PMDS policy and poor induction into PMDS. To improve the knowledge and ability to supervise PMDS, proper induction of all PMDS supervisors and periodic in-service training should be done; reference materials, the PMDS policy manuals, are to be made available in the facility and all supervisors be orientated on how to use these manuals.

scholarly journals A retrospective audit of antibiotic prescriptions in primary health-care facilities in Eastern Region, Ghana

2015 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary-Anne Ahiabu ◽  
Britt P Tersbøl ◽  
Richard Biritwum ◽  
Ib C Bygbjerg ◽  
Pascal Magnussen
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Eastern Region ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Retrospective Audit ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Primary Health Care Facilities

scholarly journals Factors affecting health care users’ first contact with primary health care facilities in north eastern China, 2008–2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. e003907
Author(s):  
Ran Liao ◽  
Yaqian Liu ◽  
Shunzhuang Peng ◽  
Xing Lin Feng
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Medical System ◽  
Health Care Facilities ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
First Contact ◽  
Hierarchical Medical System

BackgroundChina set out the vision to establishing a hierarchical medical system, with primary health care (PHC) facilities serving health care users’ first contact. Common ailments were listed, supported by a series of auxiliary policy measures. We aim to assess whether these policies were effective to prompt users’ preference to PHCs within these contexts.MethodsUsing data from three waves of National Health Service Survey, we examined trends in care users’ first contact with PHC facilities in Jilin, a north eastern province, during 2008–2018. We analysed trends and factors affecting care users’ choices, stratified by type of diseases and urban–rural settings.ResultsFrom 38 823 respondents, the survey identified 3302 health care users who sought outpatient care. 54.92% and 82.49% with diseases recommended to PHC, in urban and rural Jilin, respectively, contacted PHC facilities first. While 33.51% and 61.19% with diseases not recommended to PHC did so. Care users’ first contact with PHC facilities followed an inverse U shape during 2008–2018. Such trends were more profound among care users with hypertension and/or diabetes. Neither social health insurance coverage nor contracting with family doctors was associated with care users’ first contacts. Only 1.25% care users had referral experiences. Low perceived quality was the main barrier to choose PHC facilities.ConclusionHealth care users sought PHC in a chaotic manner in Jilin. None of the recent efforts seemed effective in prompting their preference to PHC facilities. Without levering quality of PHC, an effective hierarchical medical system could be hardly forged in China.

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