scholarly journals Barriers to Integrate Physical Exercise Into the Ethiopian Healthcare System to Treat Non-Communicable Diseases

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melkamu D. Kassa ◽  
Jeanne Grace

Introduction: Physical exercise is recognized as one component of non-communicable disease prevention, but little attention has been devoted to integrating physical exercise into the Ethiopian healthcare system, with the barriers to its inclusion being unclear. Objectives: The present study explores the bottlenecks to integrate physical exercise into the Ethiopian healthcare system to treat non-communicable disease. Design: A mixed method sequential explanatory design. Setting: Public referral hospitals in Ethiopia. Methodology: Data was collected in two phases among 312 (195 males and 117 females) healthcare professionals. The participants were selected proportionately and randomly from 13 public referral hospitals. Results: Lack of: national coordination to promote physical exercise (t (311) = 69.20, p < .0005), trained physical exercise professionals (t (311) = 14.42, p < .0005); physical exercise guidelines (t (311) = 33.25, p < .0005); training how to prescribe physical exercise by healthcare providers (t (311) = 62.94, p < .0005); information on the health benefits of physical exercise to give to their patients (t (311) = 65.62, p < .0005); and built environment that encourages physical exercise participation (t (311) = 59.64, p < .0005) were identified as barriers. Additionally, built environment, policy, healthcare professionals' lifestyle, demography of healthcare professionals, health information coverage of physical exercise and the hospital physical building were also identified as barriers. Conclusions: Physical exercise appears marginalized from the Ethiopian healthcare system. Healthcare organizations and policy makers could take the cited barriers into consideration to plan, design and integrate physical exercise into the healthcare system to prevent NCDs in Ethiopia.

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melkamu Dugassa Kassa ◽  
Jeanne Grace

INTRODUCTION: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasing as the main cause of death, disability, unproductivity and indisposition in Ethiopia.OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to establish healthcare professionals’ perception on non-communicable disease risk factors and their regional distribution in Ethiopia.METHODS: A mixed method sequential explanatory design was conducted with a questionnaire survey obtaining quantitative replies from 312 healthcare professionals working in 13 referral hospitals in the first phase and qualitative data among 13 hospital managers in the second phase.RESULTS: Statistically significant prevalence of NCDs risk factors were reported with the lack of physical exercise (M=4.94, SD=.245, t (311) = 139.383; p < .0005), hypertension (M=4.89, SD=.312, t (311) = 107.021; p < .0005), and unhealthy diet (M=4.61, SD=.782, t (311) = 36.426; p < .0005) ranking as the top three leading NCDs risk factors. The prevalence and distribution of NCDs risk factors varied within Ethiopia, with a high perceived prevalence of lack of physical exercise, unhealthy diet, alcohol use, and blood glucose in Addis Ababa city followed by Amhara region. A high prevalence of tobacco use and hypertension was also observed in the regions of Benishangul Gumuz.CONCLUSION: The results revealed that the prevalence of NCDs risk factors are increasing in different regions of Ethiopia. Regionally specific non-communicable disease intervention strategies are required to revert the growing burden of the risk factors effectively.


Author(s):  
Stéfane M. Kabene ◽  
Melody Wolfe ◽  
Raymond Leduc

The Canadian healthcare system strives to serve a population altered by ever-changing demographics, cultural shifts, and diverse societal populations, and to serve those in rural communities with remote access to health care. The following chapter examines Canada’s current healthcare system and the effects on demand for services and the supply of healthcare providers created by the need to service rural populations, by limited access to medical schools, and by the introduction of foreign medical/health professionals. More specifically, the chapter reviews the symptoms of a strained medical system plagued by “brain waste” due to the non-use of qualified immigrant healthcare professionals, long wait times as a result of inadequate staffing and resources, and a school system that hinders the development of aspiring medical care professionals from rural and international areas. If Canada is to face these challenges with efficacy and vigour, effective human resources management techniques and competent human resources professionals are a necessary prologue. Medical knowledge and skill must be valued; healthcare professionals should be utilized more efficiently to improve healthcare access and minimize brain waste.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. e029562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lal B Rawal ◽  
Kie Kanda ◽  
Tuhin Biswas ◽  
Md. Imtiaz Tanim ◽  
Prakash Poudel ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo explore healthcare providers’ perspective on non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and management services provided through the NCD corners in Bangladesh and to examine challenges and opportunities for strengthening NCD services delivery at the primary healthcare level.DesignWe used a grounded theory approach involving in-depth qualitative interviews with healthcare providers. We also used a health facility observation checklist to assess the NCD corners’ service readiness. Furthermore, a stakeholder meeting with participants from the government, non-government organisations (NGOs), private sector, universities and news media was conducted.SettingTwelve subdistrict health facilities, locally known as upazila health complex (UHC), across four administrative divisions.ParticipantsParticipants for the in-depth qualitative interviews were health service providers, namely upazila health and family planning officers (n=4), resident medical officers (n=6), medical doctors (n=4) and civil surgeons (n=1). Participants for the stakeholder meeting were health policy makers, health programme managers, researchers, academicians, NGO workers, private health practitioners and news media reporters.ResultsParticipants reported that diabetes, hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were the major NCD-related problems. All participants acknowledged the governments’ initiative to establish the NCD corners to support NCD service delivery. Participants thought the NCD corners have contributed substantially to increase NCD awareness, deliver NCD care and provide referral services. However, participants identified challenges including lack of specific guidelines and standard operating procedures; lack of trained human resources; inadequate laboratory facilities, logistics and medications; and poor recording and reporting systems.ConclusionThe initiative taken by the Government of Bangladesh to set up the NCD corners at the primary healthcare level is appreciative. However, the NCD corners are still at nascent stage to provide prevention and management services for common NCDs. These findings need to be taken into consideration while expanding the NCD corners in other UHCs throughout the country.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-143
Author(s):  
Melkamu Dugassa Kassa ◽  
Jeanne Martin Grace

Background: Three-quarters of non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality occurs in low- and middle-income countries. However, in most developing countries, quality and reliable data on morbidity, mortality and risk factors for NCD to predict its burden and prevalence are less well understood and availability of these data is limited. To better inform policymakers and improve healthcare systems in developing countries, it is also important that these factors be understood within the context of the particular country in question. Objective: The aim of this study is to further inform practitioners in Ethiopia about the availability and status of NCD information within the Ethiopian healthcare system. Method: A mixed method research design was used with data collected from 13 public referral hospitals in Ethiopia. In phase 1 quantitative data were collected from 312 health professionals (99 physicians; 213 nurses) using a cross-sectional survey. In phase 2, qualitative data were collected using: interviews ( n = 13 physician hospital managers); and one focus group ( n = 6 national health bureau officers). Results: Results highlighted the lack of NCD morbidity, mortality and risk factor data, periodic evaluation of NCD data and standardised protocols for NCD data collection in hospitals. The study also identified similar discrepancies in the availability of NCD data and standardised protocols for NCD data collection among the regions of Ethiopia. Conclusion: This study highlighted important deficiencies in NCD data and standardised protocols for data collection in the Ethiopian healthcare system. These deficiencies were also observed among regions of Ethiopia, indicating the need to strengthen both the healthcare system and health information systems to improve evidence-based decision-making. Implications: Identifying the status of NCD data in the Ethiopian healthcare system could assist policymakers, healthcare organisations, healthcare providers and health beneficiaries to reform and strengthen the existing healthcare system.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. e0215365
Author(s):  
Shalini Bassi ◽  
Vinay K. Gupta ◽  
MinHae Park ◽  
Gaurang P. Nazar ◽  
Tina Rawal ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
shahin salarvand ◽  
Masoumeh Sadat Mousavi ◽  
Mohammad Almasian

Abstract Purpose: This study aimed to explore barriers related to the healthcare system (HCS) and healthcare providers (HCPs) in implementing quality intravenous (IV) chemotherapy (CT) from the perspectives of cancer patients, family caregivers, and healthcare professionals.Methods: Using an explanatory descriptive qualitative method, this study was conducted in 2019. Forty-one participants (6 patients, 5 family caregivers, 12 oncologists, and 18 nurses) were selected through purposive sampling. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect the data, which were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Lincoln and Guba’s criteria of rigor were employed to ensure the trustworthiness of the study.Results: Data analysis showed two categories, each with three subcategories: Barriers related to HCPs that contains “educational and communication barriers”, “failure to establish trust” and “unskilled healthcare professionals”; Barriers related to the HCS, which consists of “inadequate physical and care infrastructures to provide services”, “lack of support in the disease trajectory from diagnosis to rehabilitation” and “mismanagement of CT wards/procedures”.Conclusion: The identification and removal of the barriers related to HCPs and HCS from routine care are crucial. Education of and communication with cancer patients and their family caregivers are two important pillars in the quality of intravenous chemotherapy (IV CT) and this education and communication should be based on individualized care and tailored to the unique needs of each patient.


Author(s):  
Nagarajan Ramakrishnan ◽  
Pon Thelac ◽  
Nileena Mana

The countrywide lockdown in India has necessitated healthcare providers consider alternate options for providing care during the COVID-19 pandemic. While there has been a tremendous focus in coping with emergency and inpatient care for COVID-19 related illness, there is also an increasing need to address management of non-communicable disease. The pandemic and the associated lockdown have witnessed the onset or worsening of sleep disorders often related to changing lifestyle, including inactivity, fear of the disease, and generalised anxiety caused by the uncertainty of the future. We propose the term ‘Lockdown Sleep Syndrome’ to describe this grouping of signs and symptoms. The wide coverage and extensive use of smartphones and more importantly, the appropriately timed Telemedicine Practice Guidelines from the Government of India, have made telehealth an attractive option, particularly in specialities such as Sleep Medicine which involves minimal physical examination. The experience of restricting personal visits to the clinic and promoting teleconsultation during the initial fifty days of lockdown is described. It was observed that two thirds of consultations shifted to a telehealth platform, and this was effective in giving satisfactory care and valid prescriptions, including to those outside the city of Chennai. Telemedicine not only helped provide uncompromised care to existing patients but also helped in identifying and managing the onset of new sleep problems with a pattern of signs and symptoms which are described as “Lockdown Sleep Syndrome”.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
April Joy Damian ◽  
Joseph J. Gallo

The extraordinary spread of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic is impressive. And, to public health professionals like us, it’s worrying: We know that good information and good health go hand in hand. Knowing what we do about the practice of public health and what the science tells us about how people fall for misinformation, we see promising strategies for intervention in our own field. We therefore call on fellow healthcare professionals to take concerted action against misinformation, and we suggest here one lever our field is perfectly situated to address: health literacy. In this commentary, we propose concrete strategies for colleagues at four levels of practice: in healthcare organizations, community-based partnerships, cross-sector collaborations, and as individual healthcare providers.


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