An evaluation of a selected component of a primary health care service : a nursing perspective

Date
2003-03
Authors
Letsoalo, Ngokwana Jacqueline
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Nationally and internationally emphasis is placed on quality care in health services. The researcher identified a need to evaluate a component of primary health care service in the Northern province. A study based on the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods was conducted to formulate and evaluate structure, process and outcome standards for selected clinics in the Northern Province. The most important results are: • The standard relating to the structure was suboptimal. Physical and human resources are of critical importance to the rendering of quality patient care. However this did not comply with the pre-set standard norm of 80%. • Process standards focused on physical examination of patients taking into account the age of the client and the systems involved. Substandard care was found in all these aspects. • Outcome standards determined by the patient questionnaire also revealed negative findings. Recommendations include the development of a quality improvement model for the Northern Province Health Services, formulation of standards for all disciplines of health care, annual evaluation of patient care and the institution of a formal staff development programme. Key words: quality care, formulation of standards, structure, process, outcome
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Nasionaal en internasionaal word die belang van gehaltesorg in gesondheidsdienste beklemtoon. Die navorser het enbehoefte ge'identifiseer om en component van prirnerre gesondheidsorgdienste in die Noordelike provinsie te evalueer. en Kombinasie van kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe metodes is gebruik om struktuur-, proses en uitkomsstandaarde in geselekteerde klinieke in die Noordelike provinsie te formuleer en evalueer. Die belangrikste resultate was: • Die standard ten opsigte van die standard was suboptimal. Fisiese en menslike hulpbronne is van kritiese belang vir gesondheidsdienslewering. Die standaard hiervan het nie voldoen aan die voorafbepaalde norm van 80% wat gestel is nie. • Prosesstandaarde het op fisiese ondersoek van die pasiente gefokus met inagneming van die ouderdom van die klient en die simptome waarmee pasiente presenter. Sub-standaardsorg is ten opsigte van al hierdie aspekte gevind. • Uitkomsstandaarde is deur middel van en pasientevraelys gemeet en he took negatiewe bevindinge opgelewer. Aanbevelings sluit in die ontwikkeling van engehalteversekeringsmodel vir die Noordelike Provinsie se gesondheidsdienste, die formulering van standaarde vir aile dissiplines van gesondheidsorg, jaarlikse evaluering van pasientesorq en die instelling van enformele personeelontwikkelingsprogram. Kernwoorde: Gehaltesorg, formulering van standaarde, struktuur, proses, uitkomsstandaarde.
Description
Thesis (MCur)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003.
Keywords
Primary health care -- South Africa -- Northern Province, Medical care -- Evaluation, Nursing services -- Evaluation, Dissertations -- Nursing, Theses -- Nursing
Citation