A comparison of the quality of chronic care of hypertensive patients attending a fast lane clinic versus a standard clinic in Ditsobotla Sub District, Ngakamodirimolema District in North West Province in South Africa.
Date
2012-12
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY : Background:
Ditsobotla Sub district is in NgakaModiriMolema District, North West province, South Africa. Patients with chronic diseases in the sub district are mainly taken care of at the clinics. There are two types of clinics that cater for chronic patients – fast lane and standard clinics. Fast lane clinics cater for patients with chronic diseases and family planning only whilst standard clinics cater for acute illnesses, chronic patients and family planning. Fast lane clinics were started because of dissatisfaction of chronic patients as a result of long waiting times. There were no standardised guidelines for the establishment of fast lane clinics. This study attempted to compare the quality of care given to patients between fast lane and standard clinics.
Methods: This was a cross sectional descriptive study using a validated audit tool from Western Cape, Department of Health to assess facilities and patients folders. There were 145 and 55 files from fast lane and standard clinics respectively which were audited using systematic sampling. Selected patients needed to have been attending either of the clinics for hypertension treatment from January to December 2010.
Results: The patients at the standard clinic had better adherence to their appointments than fast lane clinic (p<0.05).The standard clinic was doing much better than fast lane clinic in counseling of diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol (p<0.05).The recording of blood pressure and body weight was better at the standard clinic than fast lane clinic (p< 0.05). Fast lane clinic have more patients with well controlled blood pressure, normal creatinine level and normal random cholesterol than standard clinic (p<0.05). The differences in the findings on the facility audit regarding equipment and processes are not statistically significant (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Fast lane clinic has better outcomes and thus quality of care than standard clinic therefore maintenance and expansion of this type of clinic in Ditsobotla sub district may be of value.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Geen opsomming beskikbaar.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Geen opsomming beskikbaar.
Description
Thesis (MFamMed)--Stellenbosch University, 2012.
Keywords
Chronic diseases -- Treatment -- Ditsobotla Local Municipality (South Africa), Hypertension -- Treatment -- Ditsobotla Local Municipality (South Africa), Rural health clinics -- Ditsobotla Local Municipality (South Africa), UCTD