Victor Mogre1, Natalie A Johnson2, Flora Tzelepis3, Christine Paul2. 1. Department of Health Professions Education and Innovative Learning, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana; School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales, 2308, Australia. Electronic address: vmogre@uds.edu.gh. 2. School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales, 2308, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Locked Bag 1000, New Lambton, New South Wales, 2305, Australia. 3. School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales, 2308, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Locked Bag 1000, New Lambton, New South Wales, 2305, Australia; Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Locked Mail Bag 10, Wallsend, New South Wales, 2287, Australia.
Abstract
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Self-care support provided by healthcare providers (HCPs) is critical to diabetes self-care. However, a number of barriers prevent HCPs from providing self-care support to people with diabetes. We explored attitudes towards, barriers and facilitators of the provision of diabetes self-care support among Ghanaian HCPs. METHODS: Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted among HCPs recruited from three diabetes clinics in Tamale, Ghana. All interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded and analysed thematically. RESULTS: HCPs reported a sense of responsibility and urgency to provide self-care education to diabetes patients; while believing it was the patients' responsibility to self-care for their diabetes condition. Accordingly, HCPs perceived their role to be limited to information sharing rather than behaviour change interventions. Facilitators to the provision of self-care support included patients' motivation, and team work among healthcare professionals. Barriers that hindered self-care support included language barriers and poor inter-professional collaboration. Furthermore, HCPs discussed that they felt inadequately trained to provide self-care support. Healthcare-system-related barriers were inadequate office space, lack of professional development programmes, high patient numbers, inadequate staff numbers, inadequate health insurance and a lack of sufficient supplies and equipment in the hospital. CONCLUSION: HCPs attitudes were generally favourable towards supporting self-care, albeit with a focus on information provision rather than behaviour change. Training in effective strategies for providing self-care support are needed, and better use of the resources that are available.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: Self-care support provided by healthcare providers (HCPs) is critical to diabetes self-care. However, a number of barriers prevent HCPs from providing self-care support to people with diabetes. We explored attitudes towards, barriers and facilitators of the provision of diabetes self-care support among Ghanaian HCPs. METHODS: Fourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted among HCPs recruited from three diabetes clinics in Tamale, Ghana. All interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded and analysed thematically. RESULTS: HCPs reported a sense of responsibility and urgency to provide self-care education to diabetespatients; while believing it was the patients' responsibility to self-care for their diabetes condition. Accordingly, HCPs perceived their role to be limited to information sharing rather than behaviour change interventions. Facilitators to the provision of self-care support included patients' motivation, and team work among healthcare professionals. Barriers that hindered self-care support included language barriers and poor inter-professional collaboration. Furthermore, HCPs discussed that they felt inadequately trained to provide self-care support. Healthcare-system-related barriers were inadequate office space, lack of professional development programmes, high patient numbers, inadequate staff numbers, inadequate health insurance and a lack of sufficient supplies and equipment in the hospital. CONCLUSION: HCPs attitudes were generally favourable towards supporting self-care, albeit with a focus on information provision rather than behaviour change. Training in effective strategies for providing self-care support are needed, and better use of the resources that are available.
Authors: Pearl A McElfish; Christopher R Long; Aaron J Scott; Jonell S Hudson; Lauren Haggard-Duff; Angel Holland; Thomas K Schulz; Ralph O Wilmoth; James P Selig Journal: J Prim Care Community Health Date: 2020 Jan-Dec