scholarly journals Ethical dilemmas in paediatric intensive care in the South African public healthcare sector

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
D Ballot ◽  
T Ramdin ◽  
D White ◽  
A Dhai
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Paul ◽  
Terry J Ellapen ◽  
Takalani C. Muluvhu ◽  
Makwena B. Ntjana

This chapter reviews the efficacy of the only South African exercise therapy profession (Biokinetics) in the rehabilitation of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Biokinetics is a South African exercise therapy profession established in 1983 and which operates in both the pathogenic and fortogenic healthcare paradigms. Unfortunately, the profession of Biokinetics is restricted to the South African private healthcare sector. This chapter describes the scope of the profession of Biokinetics, empirical studies illustrating the efficacy of the profession in addressing society’s non-communicable disease epidemic, and the challenges inhibiting the profession from gaining access to the South African public healthcare sector. It is hoped that the presentation and critical appraisal of the empirical evidence which illustrates the contribution of the profession of Biokinetics to the rehabilitation of NCDs justifies the authors’ claims for the inclusion of the aforementioned profession in the South African public healthcare sector.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Natalie Davies

Background Currently, chiropractic is not incorporated into the South African public healthcare sector despite its emphasis on the values of wellness and health. This is due to a poor relationship with mainstream medical practitioners, the construct of chiropractic education and its long standing isolation within the healthcare system within South Africa. The public healthcare sector in South Africa is strained. Low back pain is one of the main reasons patients seek medical attention from primary medical doctors. A growing body of evidence is now emerging which supports the role of chiropractic in post-­surgical rehabilitation and the treatment of extraspinal non-­pathological musculoskeletal conditions. Based on the findings of these studies, an argument could be made for the transition of chiropractic from a mainly private practice base to one that would enable it to reach to the wider population in the public healthcare sector. Aim The aim of the research study was to explore and describe the perceptions that chiropractors have about the integration of the chiropractic profession into the South African public healthcare sector. Method A descriptive exploratory qualitative approach was used to guide the study. In-­ depth interviews were conducted with ten chiropractors within the eThekwini municipality. The main research question for this study was “What are the perceptions of chiropractors in the eThekwini Municipality on the integration of chiropractic into the public healthcare sector of South Africa?” The data was analysed through thematic analysis. Results The main themes that emerged were the role of chiropractic in the healthcare system, the integration of chiropractic into the healthcare sector and the challenges facing chiropractors in the healthcare system. The themes and sub-­ themes were as follows;; • Theme 1 Role of chiropractic in the healthcare system Sub-­theme 1.1 Primary contact for neuromuscular medicine. • Theme 2 Integration of chiropractors into the public healthcare sector Sub-­theme 2.1 Relief of overworked healthcare workers. Sub-­theme 2.2 Decrease costs in surgical and medication use. Sub-­theme 2.3 Increased learning opportunities. Sub-­theme 2.4 Use of chiropractic in post-­surgical care. Sub-­theme 2.5 Need for pre-­surgical assessment. Sub-­theme 2.6 Integration facilitated by the Chiropractic Association of South Africa (CASA). • Theme 3 Challenges facing chiropractors in the public healthcare sector Sub-­theme 3.1 Opposition from medical doctors. Sub-­theme 3.2 Opposition from within the chiropractic profession. Sub-­theme 3.3 Inability to function as the primary practitioners. Sub-­theme 3.4 Unfamiliar structure of the public health care sector. Conclusion A lack of clarity on the identity and role of chiropractic in the public healthcare sector emerged from the findings of this study. Individual chiropractors, the professional body (CASA) and the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA) need to engage in active roles in the integration of chiropractic into the public healthcare sector of South Africa.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 782-790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thabiet Jardine ◽  
Esther Wong ◽  
Retha Steenkamp ◽  
Fergus J Caskey ◽  
Mogamat Razeen Davids

Abstract Background The majority of South Africans rely on a resource-constrained public healthcare sector, where access to renal replacement therapy (RRT) is strictly rationed. The incidence of RRT in this sector is only 4.4 per million population (pmp), whereas it is 139 pmp in the private sector, which serves mainly the 16% of South Africans who have medical insurance. Data on the outcomes of RRT may influence policies and resource allocation. This study evaluated, for the first time, the survival of South African patients starting RRT based on data from the South African Renal Registry. Methods The cohort included patients with end-stage kidney disease who initiated RRT between January 2013 and September 2016. Data were collected on potential risk factors for mortality. Failure events included stopping treatment without recovery of renal function and death. Patients were censored at 1 year or upon recovery of renal function or loss to follow-up. The 1-year patient survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and the association of potential risk factors with survival was assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. Results The cohort comprised 6187 patients. The median age was 52.5 years, 47.2% had diabetes, 10.2% were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive and 82.2% had haemodialysis as their first RRT modality. A total of 542 patients died within 1 year of initiating RRT, and overall 1-year survival was 90.4% [95% confidence interval (CI) 89.6–91.2]. Survival was similar in patients treated in the private sector as compared with the public healthcare sector [hazard ratio 0.93 (95% CI 0.72–1.21)]. Higher mortality was associated with older age and a primary renal diagnosis of ‘Other’ or ‘Aetiology unknown’. When compared with those residing in the Western Cape, patients residing in the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Free State provinces had higher mortality. There was no difference in mortality based on ethnicity, diabetes or treatment modality. The 1-year survival was 95.9 and 94.2% in HIV-positive and -negative patients, respectively. One-fifth of the cohort had no data on HIV status and the survival in this group was considerably lower at 77.1% (P < 0.001). Conclusions The survival rates of South African patients accessing RRT are comparable to those in better-resourced countries. It is still unclear what effect, if any, HIV infection has on survival.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (suppl_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Šantric Milicevic ◽  
M Gacevic ◽  
N Milic ◽  
M Milicevic ◽  
M Vasic ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Stephen Cantarutti ◽  
Emmanuel M. Pothos

Abstract Background According to recent polling, public trust in the healthcare sector remains low relative to other industries globally. The implications of low healthcare trust permeate throughout the industry in a number of ways, most visibly by discouraging therapy compliance. Methods This study investigated four putative determinants of trust in healthcare-related scenarios: individuals vs. collective groups as communicators of healthcare advice; expert vs. laypeople as providers of healthcare communication; public vs. private healthcare sector; and positive vs. negative information. Two hundred seventy-four participants were recruited via Prolific Academic and were presented with four statements in random order, related to a positive reflection of the public healthcare sector, a negative reflection of the public healthcare sector, a positive reflection of the private healthcare sector and a negative reflection of the private healthcare sector. According to these reflection, participants were repeatedly asked to rate the system on its trustworthiness. Trust outcomes were constructed using a four-dimension framework, consisting of benevolence, reliability, competence and predictability. Results Claims relating to the public sector had a significantly stronger impact on benevolence and reliability than claims relating to the private sector; claims from individuals had a significantly stronger impact on all trust variables than claims from collectives; and claims from laypeople had a significantly greater impact on reliability and competence ratings than claims from experts. Conclusions The findings in this study offer insight into the patterns with which trust decisions are made in healthcare contexts. More importantly, this research offers a novel perspective of how different factors interact to affect the various facets of trust. These results provide a foundation for future study in this evolving area, and offer insights into designing effective communication strategies that cultivate greater levels of individual trust in the healthcare sector.


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adebukola Esther Oyewunmi ◽  
Olabode Adeleke Oyewunmi ◽  
Ibiyinka Stella Ojo ◽  
Olumuyiwa Akinrole Oludayo

Undoubtedly, multiple competencies are essential for effective leadership and identifying specific competencies that will foster employees’ performance, is a veritable venture. This study explores the impact of leaders’ emotional intelligence on employees’ performance within Nigeria’s public healthcare sector and also provides perspective on the contextual underpinnings. It adopts the survey method and randomly samples leaders and employees within the sector. Data analyses using the t-test and hierarchical regression analytical tool, reveals a significant correlation between the emotional intelligence of leaders and the performance of employees. The study finds that the task of leadership, coupled with the multiple challenges within Nigeria’s public healthcare sector, requires a reasonable measure of emotional intelligence in order to facilitate employees’ performance.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waleed KH Mohamed AL-Hadban ◽  
Shafiz Affendi Mohd Yusof ◽  
Kamarul Faizal Hashim

The use of new technologies and information systems within healthcare practice provides several advantages and functionalities for healthcare institutions. However, the use of these advanced technologies is not an easy task and the literature has documented several cases of resistance to adopting such technologies by the healthcare staff. Furthermore, governmental reports stated that Iraq healthcare sector is enduring challenges in this regard. For this reason, the current study explored the opinions of healthcare professionals using semi-structured interviews to highlight the important factors and issues that influence the use and adoption of new technologies within Iraq public healthcare sector. To our best knowledge, this empirical study is the first to employ a qualitative approach to address the issue of healthcare information system adoption in Iraq healthcare domain. Twenty six themes have emerged in the findings of this qualitative study which can be helpful for healthcare seniors in order to overcome the present challenges related to the adoption of healthcare information systems and to improve the healthcare practice in general.


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