Factors influencing the performance of staff members in a tertiary hospital
- Combrink, Cornelius Johannes
- Authors: Combrink, Cornelius Johannes
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Community health services
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21642 , vital:51737
- Description: Healthcare services within a hospital setting are the basic aspects for the success of service delivery and staff performance in this regard. The paramount component of human resources makes a positive contribution to a healthcare system. Recently, it has been recognised that the performance of healthcare personnel ought to be a key factor for a sustainable performance system. Nevertheless, it is generally known that healthcare workers fail to accomplish the anticipated outcomes of health interventions. This concept leads to the research question: Why is the public sector known for poor service delivery and poor performance? This study aims to determine the factors that impact on the health worker’s performance in a tertiary hospital in South-Africa. A framework will be carefully constructed and cautiously implemented to improve and develop the performance of healthcare workers in this hospital. The vast scope and population involved in this study make a quantitative research approach most suitable, along with a non-probability purposive sampling method. A survey method using an electronic questionnaire that was circulated via a web survey, and a paper-based questionnaire that was distributed within the hospital were used to obtain a diverse perception of the healthcare workers. Data analysis included determining factors, group differences and correlations using the SPSS-27 program. The target population included all healthcare workers in the tertiary hospital – from junior employees to senior management level staff. Statistical data analysis collected for this study revealed four major factors (politics-related resources, resource, training and socioeconomic) that play a major role in the trends of performance culture at the selected tertiary hospital. These results lead to the understanding that the hospital is currently experiencing inadequate human resources management components such as recognition of employees who perform above expectations; execution of a performance appraisal system; lack in implementing the annual salary increase; unfavourable working conditions (lack of resources); troublesome management skills, and insufficient feedback on performance outcomes. These features are directly associated with the quality and degree of the performance of healthcare personnel. Based on the results, a management framework was proposed. The framework consists of activities that will improve the healthcare profession; strengthen expertise and knowledge; develop management skills; enhance knowledge through research and, ultimately, upgrade the performance of healthcare personnel. , Thesis (MPH) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, Public Health, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
- Authors: Combrink, Cornelius Johannes
- Date: 2021-12
- Subjects: Community health services
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21642 , vital:51737
- Description: Healthcare services within a hospital setting are the basic aspects for the success of service delivery and staff performance in this regard. The paramount component of human resources makes a positive contribution to a healthcare system. Recently, it has been recognised that the performance of healthcare personnel ought to be a key factor for a sustainable performance system. Nevertheless, it is generally known that healthcare workers fail to accomplish the anticipated outcomes of health interventions. This concept leads to the research question: Why is the public sector known for poor service delivery and poor performance? This study aims to determine the factors that impact on the health worker’s performance in a tertiary hospital in South-Africa. A framework will be carefully constructed and cautiously implemented to improve and develop the performance of healthcare workers in this hospital. The vast scope and population involved in this study make a quantitative research approach most suitable, along with a non-probability purposive sampling method. A survey method using an electronic questionnaire that was circulated via a web survey, and a paper-based questionnaire that was distributed within the hospital were used to obtain a diverse perception of the healthcare workers. Data analysis included determining factors, group differences and correlations using the SPSS-27 program. The target population included all healthcare workers in the tertiary hospital – from junior employees to senior management level staff. Statistical data analysis collected for this study revealed four major factors (politics-related resources, resource, training and socioeconomic) that play a major role in the trends of performance culture at the selected tertiary hospital. These results lead to the understanding that the hospital is currently experiencing inadequate human resources management components such as recognition of employees who perform above expectations; execution of a performance appraisal system; lack in implementing the annual salary increase; unfavourable working conditions (lack of resources); troublesome management skills, and insufficient feedback on performance outcomes. These features are directly associated with the quality and degree of the performance of healthcare personnel. Based on the results, a management framework was proposed. The framework consists of activities that will improve the healthcare profession; strengthen expertise and knowledge; develop management skills; enhance knowledge through research and, ultimately, upgrade the performance of healthcare personnel. , Thesis (MPH) -- Faculty of Health Sciences, Public Health, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-12
A comparative study of occupational hazards amongst public hospital healthcare workers in urban and rural areas of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
- Authors: Ngobe, Sinoneliso Avuyisiwe
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Community health services , Health risk assessment -- South Africa , Hazardous materials-- KwaZulu Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/56081 , vital:55291
- Description: The role of healthcare workers (HCWs) is to render services to the sick. While executing their duties, these HCWs can fall ill due to various occupational exposures. HCWs are exposed to a range of hazards including physical, biological, chemical and ergonomic hazards. These hazards can cause physical injuries, diseases, mental strain and other adverse health effects.: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of occupational hazards amongst HCWs in urban and rural areas of the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was utilised on the estimated sample size of 270 respondents, from ten public hospitals. The sampling method used to identify participants was convenience sampling and data was collected through a self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire. The analysed data was presented in descriptive and inferential summary statistics. The data was analysed using graphical and numerical descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistical techniques. The statistical significance was set at P0.05. The results revealed that both urban and rural HCWs were exposed to physical, biological, chemical and ergonomic hazards. Overall, physical hazards were the most frequently reported form of hazard exposure at 98,6%, followed by biological hazards (96,7%), ergonomic hazards (94,4%) and chemical hazards (23,7%). The duration of exposure to hazards varied from 12 months to 5 years. In a period of 12 months, radiation, cold, heat, slips and trips were the most common sources of physical hazard exposure while direct contact with patient bodily fluids was the most common source of biological hazard exposure and mercury was the most common source of chemical hazard exposure. More than a quarter of the HCWs had experienced some form of assault by a patient in the preceding 12 months. Over a three-year period, both urban and rural area HCWs reported the use of post-exposure prophylaxis and experienced symptoms of chemical exposure at work. Less than 6% of the HCWs had developed an occupational disease in the previous five years. There were no statistically significant differences in total exposure to hazards between urban and rural area HCW. , Thesis (Mtech) --Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Ngobe, Sinoneliso Avuyisiwe
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Community health services , Health risk assessment -- South Africa , Hazardous materials-- KwaZulu Natal
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/56081 , vital:55291
- Description: The role of healthcare workers (HCWs) is to render services to the sick. While executing their duties, these HCWs can fall ill due to various occupational exposures. HCWs are exposed to a range of hazards including physical, biological, chemical and ergonomic hazards. These hazards can cause physical injuries, diseases, mental strain and other adverse health effects.: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of occupational hazards amongst HCWs in urban and rural areas of the KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was utilised on the estimated sample size of 270 respondents, from ten public hospitals. The sampling method used to identify participants was convenience sampling and data was collected through a self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire. The analysed data was presented in descriptive and inferential summary statistics. The data was analysed using graphical and numerical descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistical techniques. The statistical significance was set at P0.05. The results revealed that both urban and rural HCWs were exposed to physical, biological, chemical and ergonomic hazards. Overall, physical hazards were the most frequently reported form of hazard exposure at 98,6%, followed by biological hazards (96,7%), ergonomic hazards (94,4%) and chemical hazards (23,7%). The duration of exposure to hazards varied from 12 months to 5 years. In a period of 12 months, radiation, cold, heat, slips and trips were the most common sources of physical hazard exposure while direct contact with patient bodily fluids was the most common source of biological hazard exposure and mercury was the most common source of chemical hazard exposure. More than a quarter of the HCWs had experienced some form of assault by a patient in the preceding 12 months. Over a three-year period, both urban and rural area HCWs reported the use of post-exposure prophylaxis and experienced symptoms of chemical exposure at work. Less than 6% of the HCWs had developed an occupational disease in the previous five years. There were no statistically significant differences in total exposure to hazards between urban and rural area HCW. , Thesis (Mtech) --Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural Sciences, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
The sustainability of health committees in Nelson Mandela Bay
- Authors: Zhakata, Chikomborero
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Health services administration , Community health services
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9151 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019704
- Description: Primary health care is pivotal to the growth of a country’s economy by improving the health and social well-being of its people. Several efforts and structures have been put in place to ensure that all South Africans have access to health facilities as well as representation in the health facilities, just as community members are represented in schools and other boards. Health committees play an important and integral role to the community and health facilities by being mediators between the community and the health facility (Padarath &Friedman, 2008). The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces that has health committees that are fully functional and a number of factors including the collaboration of key stakeholders (facility managers, community members, clinic staff and ward councillors) contribute to why health committees have been operational in the Eastern Cape(Padarath &Friedman , 2008). It becomes critical to investigate factors that sustain health committees in Nelson Mandela Bay. This chapter introduces the research topic, purpose, rationale and background as well as the objectives of the study. The research focuses on investigating the sustainability of health committees in Nelson Mandela Bay therefore making it critical to define the term sustainability. Conceptualizing sustainability has been ongoing with various definitions from learners from different backgrounds. Sustainability as a concept emanates from different dimensions namely, scientific, political economic and indigenous dimension. Sustainability has been described by scholars as a state of well-being and as an evolutionary process (Dimitrov, 2010). Sustainability is regarded as a state of well being whereby humans can live in co-exist with the natural world, this definition takes into account issues to do with good health , cultural identity, personal security and freedom of choice. Sustainability- well being brings out a lot of questions and problems in identifying the fundamentals values of sustainability. It is continuously debated amoung scholars if sustainability of well being pertains only to the health conditions of human beings or it should be extended to others (Dimitrov, 2010) “Sustainability that is restricted to the well being of humans is related to Notions about security of individual/community health together with financial security together with financial security; the planet is regarded as a resource to further this end (Dimitrov, 2010:4) If however well-being definitions of sustainability are construed to preserving and protecting the environment as well as biodiversity of other species (plant and animals) then the normative definitions of sustainability from this viewpoint are tendered with notions of global Environmental stability, ecological considerations and security of ecosystems” (Dimitrov, 2010:4).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Zhakata, Chikomborero
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Health services administration , Community health services
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9151 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1019704
- Description: Primary health care is pivotal to the growth of a country’s economy by improving the health and social well-being of its people. Several efforts and structures have been put in place to ensure that all South Africans have access to health facilities as well as representation in the health facilities, just as community members are represented in schools and other boards. Health committees play an important and integral role to the community and health facilities by being mediators between the community and the health facility (Padarath &Friedman, 2008). The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces that has health committees that are fully functional and a number of factors including the collaboration of key stakeholders (facility managers, community members, clinic staff and ward councillors) contribute to why health committees have been operational in the Eastern Cape(Padarath &Friedman , 2008). It becomes critical to investigate factors that sustain health committees in Nelson Mandela Bay. This chapter introduces the research topic, purpose, rationale and background as well as the objectives of the study. The research focuses on investigating the sustainability of health committees in Nelson Mandela Bay therefore making it critical to define the term sustainability. Conceptualizing sustainability has been ongoing with various definitions from learners from different backgrounds. Sustainability as a concept emanates from different dimensions namely, scientific, political economic and indigenous dimension. Sustainability has been described by scholars as a state of well-being and as an evolutionary process (Dimitrov, 2010). Sustainability is regarded as a state of well being whereby humans can live in co-exist with the natural world, this definition takes into account issues to do with good health , cultural identity, personal security and freedom of choice. Sustainability- well being brings out a lot of questions and problems in identifying the fundamentals values of sustainability. It is continuously debated amoung scholars if sustainability of well being pertains only to the health conditions of human beings or it should be extended to others (Dimitrov, 2010) “Sustainability that is restricted to the well being of humans is related to Notions about security of individual/community health together with financial security together with financial security; the planet is regarded as a resource to further this end (Dimitrov, 2010:4) If however well-being definitions of sustainability are construed to preserving and protecting the environment as well as biodiversity of other species (plant and animals) then the normative definitions of sustainability from this viewpoint are tendered with notions of global Environmental stability, ecological considerations and security of ecosystems” (Dimitrov, 2010:4).
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Strategies and approaches that sustain community health committees in Nelson Mandela Bay Health District
- Authors: Shugu, Yolisa
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Community health services , Community health services -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Citizen participation , Public health -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Citizen participation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8905 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021003
- Description: Primary health care has been the cornerstone of South Africa's health policies since its transition to democracy in 1994. In order to optimise the effectiveness of primary health care, the South African government introduced community health committees hich were intended to facilitate primary health care at the grassroots level through community participation. As statutory bodies outlined in the National Health Act, 61 of 2003, and in provincial legislation, Community Health Committees were to be the liaison between communities and government and assist government in improving health services in communities. Since being re-established in 2010, Community Health Committees in the Nelson Mandela Bay Health District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa have sought to fulfil this role and have remained sustainable. This research was aimed at investigating the strategies and approaches which sustain Community Health Committees in Nelson Mandela Bay Health District. It focused on eliciting information regarding the factors that sustain Community Health Committees, factors that threaten their sustainability and factors that motivate continued membership in Community Health Committees. Qualitative research methods of key informant interviews, observations and focus groups were used and analysed to identify these factors. The findings indicated that Community Health Committees struggle to remain sustainable because of various threats to their functioning. The major threat identified was the disengagement of the Department of Health in the operations of the Community Health Committees. The Department of Health was not visible; rather it was passive and unresponsive to the reports submitted by Community Health Committees on behalf of their communities and provided no re-imbursement for administration costs. Despite threats to sustainability, these Community Health Committees had commitment, passion and drive to assist with the health improvement of their communities in partnership with health facilities in their communities. Good interpersonal relationships in the Community Health Committees, good professional relationships with the health facility staff and the liaising role played by health facility management are some of the factors that contributed to sustainability. Recommendations were made at the end of the study that may assist the Nelson Mandela Bay Health District and the Department of Health to create a working environment that will be conducive to the sustainability of Community health Committees.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
- Authors: Shugu, Yolisa
- Date: 2013
- Subjects: Community health services , Community health services -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Citizen participation , Public health -- South Africa -- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality -- Citizen participation
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MBA
- Identifier: vital:8905 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1021003
- Description: Primary health care has been the cornerstone of South Africa's health policies since its transition to democracy in 1994. In order to optimise the effectiveness of primary health care, the South African government introduced community health committees hich were intended to facilitate primary health care at the grassroots level through community participation. As statutory bodies outlined in the National Health Act, 61 of 2003, and in provincial legislation, Community Health Committees were to be the liaison between communities and government and assist government in improving health services in communities. Since being re-established in 2010, Community Health Committees in the Nelson Mandela Bay Health District, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa have sought to fulfil this role and have remained sustainable. This research was aimed at investigating the strategies and approaches which sustain Community Health Committees in Nelson Mandela Bay Health District. It focused on eliciting information regarding the factors that sustain Community Health Committees, factors that threaten their sustainability and factors that motivate continued membership in Community Health Committees. Qualitative research methods of key informant interviews, observations and focus groups were used and analysed to identify these factors. The findings indicated that Community Health Committees struggle to remain sustainable because of various threats to their functioning. The major threat identified was the disengagement of the Department of Health in the operations of the Community Health Committees. The Department of Health was not visible; rather it was passive and unresponsive to the reports submitted by Community Health Committees on behalf of their communities and provided no re-imbursement for administration costs. Despite threats to sustainability, these Community Health Committees had commitment, passion and drive to assist with the health improvement of their communities in partnership with health facilities in their communities. Good interpersonal relationships in the Community Health Committees, good professional relationships with the health facility staff and the liaising role played by health facility management are some of the factors that contributed to sustainability. Recommendations were made at the end of the study that may assist the Nelson Mandela Bay Health District and the Department of Health to create a working environment that will be conducive to the sustainability of Community health Committees.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2013
An investigation into the roles and functions of community health committees
- Authors: Wood, Sally Dawn
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Community health services , Public health
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9071 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008403 , Community health services , Public health
- Description: Community participation has been a popular method of people centred, grassroots development in many developing countries. With an emphasis on primary health care (PHC) through the signing of the Declaration of Alma Atta in 1978, there was a renewed commitment to community participation within the health care system. In South Africa, the end of the apartheid era announced a new dedication towards the principles of a comprehensive, promotive and preventative health care in line with the principles of PHC. These changes were outlined in The White Paper on Transformation of the Health System (1997) and advocated the importance of community involvement in the health care system. These roles were formalised in the National Act Health (61 of 2003) with the provision for the establishment of the clinic and community health centre committees as statutory bodies. The initial implementation of the committees had no guidelines or policy to direct their functioning and therefore led to them being differentiated and poorly functioning. In 2009, the Eastern Cape Department of Health issued a Policy on the Establishment and Effective functioning of Clinic and Community Health Centre Committees. In 2010, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Community Development Unit, in collaboration with the Health Department, provided a program to formally establish and train all the community health committees in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in accordance with the new policy. This research aimed to investigate the community health committees (CHCs) in the Nelson Mandela Bay District, specifically the way in which they were functioning, three years on from this establishment process, with regards to the roles and functions outlined in the Policy document. This report highlights the extent to which the roles are being met, the challenges impeding the fulfilment of these roles and other factors which inhibit the effective functioning of the CHCs. A qualitative research method was used including focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with key informants to illicit the necessary data. These results were transcribed and analysed to identify recurring themes in order to draw conclusions. The CHCs were found to have varying levels of functionality but had similar challenges in fulfilling the roles. Generally there was a poor level of awareness of the policy and the roles defined within and in addition to this there was confusion over the terminology used within the Policy. The role of Advocacy was undertaken enthusiastically by the CHCs with many forms of education and health programs being promoted. However, a lack of knowledge of the PHC model was evident, which inhibited the CHCs from advocating the importance of this. Oversight was seen by the CHC members as being the most important role for them to fulfil, as the level of medical care received in the clinic was perceived to be poor. The CHC members readily monitor levels of medication, staff presence and service provision but do not feel that they have much power to improve the situation. The role of Social Mobilisation was poorly fulfilled due to a lack of outreach into the community and therefore social upliftment only takes place when community members come to the clinic to use the services. Finally, fundraising was the most unsuccessfully achieved role of the CHCs. A combination of a lack of formal recognition and misguided ideas, have resulted in little means of funding for the CHCs. Generally the major inhibiting factors that the CHCs face are; an incomplete fulfilment of the outlined membership of the committees, lack of comprehensive community representation, a lack of commitment from the Health Department and a feeling of isolation. All of these factors are reducing the motivation of the dedicated CHC members. Recommendations were made at the end of the study to help increase the impact these committees are having on their communities. It is hoped that the Provincial Health Department can work together with the CHCs and other stakeholders to implement these recommendations to help sustain the CHCs further.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
- Authors: Wood, Sally Dawn
- Date: 2012
- Subjects: Community health services , Public health
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:9071 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1008403 , Community health services , Public health
- Description: Community participation has been a popular method of people centred, grassroots development in many developing countries. With an emphasis on primary health care (PHC) through the signing of the Declaration of Alma Atta in 1978, there was a renewed commitment to community participation within the health care system. In South Africa, the end of the apartheid era announced a new dedication towards the principles of a comprehensive, promotive and preventative health care in line with the principles of PHC. These changes were outlined in The White Paper on Transformation of the Health System (1997) and advocated the importance of community involvement in the health care system. These roles were formalised in the National Act Health (61 of 2003) with the provision for the establishment of the clinic and community health centre committees as statutory bodies. The initial implementation of the committees had no guidelines or policy to direct their functioning and therefore led to them being differentiated and poorly functioning. In 2009, the Eastern Cape Department of Health issued a Policy on the Establishment and Effective functioning of Clinic and Community Health Centre Committees. In 2010, the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Community Development Unit, in collaboration with the Health Department, provided a program to formally establish and train all the community health committees in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in accordance with the new policy. This research aimed to investigate the community health committees (CHCs) in the Nelson Mandela Bay District, specifically the way in which they were functioning, three years on from this establishment process, with regards to the roles and functions outlined in the Policy document. This report highlights the extent to which the roles are being met, the challenges impeding the fulfilment of these roles and other factors which inhibit the effective functioning of the CHCs. A qualitative research method was used including focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with key informants to illicit the necessary data. These results were transcribed and analysed to identify recurring themes in order to draw conclusions. The CHCs were found to have varying levels of functionality but had similar challenges in fulfilling the roles. Generally there was a poor level of awareness of the policy and the roles defined within and in addition to this there was confusion over the terminology used within the Policy. The role of Advocacy was undertaken enthusiastically by the CHCs with many forms of education and health programs being promoted. However, a lack of knowledge of the PHC model was evident, which inhibited the CHCs from advocating the importance of this. Oversight was seen by the CHC members as being the most important role for them to fulfil, as the level of medical care received in the clinic was perceived to be poor. The CHC members readily monitor levels of medication, staff presence and service provision but do not feel that they have much power to improve the situation. The role of Social Mobilisation was poorly fulfilled due to a lack of outreach into the community and therefore social upliftment only takes place when community members come to the clinic to use the services. Finally, fundraising was the most unsuccessfully achieved role of the CHCs. A combination of a lack of formal recognition and misguided ideas, have resulted in little means of funding for the CHCs. Generally the major inhibiting factors that the CHCs face are; an incomplete fulfilment of the outlined membership of the committees, lack of comprehensive community representation, a lack of commitment from the Health Department and a feeling of isolation. All of these factors are reducing the motivation of the dedicated CHC members. Recommendations were made at the end of the study to help increase the impact these committees are having on their communities. It is hoped that the Provincial Health Department can work together with the CHCs and other stakeholders to implement these recommendations to help sustain the CHCs further.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2012
Audit of community pharmacy activities
- Authors: Blignault, Suzette Martha
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Pharmacy , Community health services
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10130 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1533 , Pharmacy , Community health services
- Description: In South Africa the pharmacy profession has experienced a number of changes around the turn of the century such as the introduction of the National Drug Policy (NDP), pharmacy ownership and price regulation. With this the role and earnings of the pharmacy profession, as well as to what extent the pharmacist adds value to the profession and society, are being questioned. Community pharmacists are thus faced with the challenge to prove that the value that they add to society is meaningful. Therefore, the aim of the study was to document community pharmacy availability and activities in South Africa and based on this to quantify the perceived value that the community pharmacist adds to society through the delivery of pharmaceutical services and pharmaceutical care. In order to determine the pharmacist’s true value added two surveys were conducted in 2006; an original pharmacist survey and a general public survey. The results obtained were verified by a follow–up pharmacist survey in 2009 to confirm or reject the results obtained in the original survey. The study was representative of both the community pharmacies and the general public in South Africa and was primarily quantitative in design and analysis. More than half of the responding pharmacies (63.16%) were open seven days a week. The average hours of service per day ranged from 10 hours (Monday to Friday) through to 6.45 hours on Saturdays and 3 hours on Sundays. Pharmacists continuously upgraded their professional knowledge. More than three quarters of pharmacies had the necessary equipment available to perform the services investigated in the study. The general public was not aware of all the services provided by pharmacists and as a result, depending on the service, many people did not make use of these services. The general public that made use of services delivered by community pharmacies mainly perceived the services delivered to be of good quality. The main barrier to practicing pharmaceutical care was indicated by pharmacists as not receiving payment for the advice given followed by pharmaceutical care being time consuming, and that there was not enough time to talk to patients. The general public indicated that they found it difficult to ask questions in pharmacies because other patients could hear what was discussed, or other patients had to wait longer if they asked something, and pharmacy staff being too busy. The results of the original pharmacist and the general public survey were confirmed by the results of the follow-up survey with the exception of dispensing prescription medicine (8 minutes 28 seconds), OTC medicine (7 minutes 23 seconds), counselling of prescription medicine (8 minutes 51 seconds) and OTC medicine (8 minutes) which on average took longer to conduct than in the previous analysis. The study highlighted the value added to the wellness and quality of life of the community of South Africa through the delivery of pharmaceutical care and pharmaceutical services by community pharmacy staff, and proved that pharmacists are committed to the provision of pharmaceutical care and pharmaceutical services.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
- Authors: Blignault, Suzette Martha
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Pharmacy , Community health services
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:10130 , http://hdl.handle.net/10948/1533 , Pharmacy , Community health services
- Description: In South Africa the pharmacy profession has experienced a number of changes around the turn of the century such as the introduction of the National Drug Policy (NDP), pharmacy ownership and price regulation. With this the role and earnings of the pharmacy profession, as well as to what extent the pharmacist adds value to the profession and society, are being questioned. Community pharmacists are thus faced with the challenge to prove that the value that they add to society is meaningful. Therefore, the aim of the study was to document community pharmacy availability and activities in South Africa and based on this to quantify the perceived value that the community pharmacist adds to society through the delivery of pharmaceutical services and pharmaceutical care. In order to determine the pharmacist’s true value added two surveys were conducted in 2006; an original pharmacist survey and a general public survey. The results obtained were verified by a follow–up pharmacist survey in 2009 to confirm or reject the results obtained in the original survey. The study was representative of both the community pharmacies and the general public in South Africa and was primarily quantitative in design and analysis. More than half of the responding pharmacies (63.16%) were open seven days a week. The average hours of service per day ranged from 10 hours (Monday to Friday) through to 6.45 hours on Saturdays and 3 hours on Sundays. Pharmacists continuously upgraded their professional knowledge. More than three quarters of pharmacies had the necessary equipment available to perform the services investigated in the study. The general public was not aware of all the services provided by pharmacists and as a result, depending on the service, many people did not make use of these services. The general public that made use of services delivered by community pharmacies mainly perceived the services delivered to be of good quality. The main barrier to practicing pharmaceutical care was indicated by pharmacists as not receiving payment for the advice given followed by pharmaceutical care being time consuming, and that there was not enough time to talk to patients. The general public indicated that they found it difficult to ask questions in pharmacies because other patients could hear what was discussed, or other patients had to wait longer if they asked something, and pharmacy staff being too busy. The results of the original pharmacist and the general public survey were confirmed by the results of the follow-up survey with the exception of dispensing prescription medicine (8 minutes 28 seconds), OTC medicine (7 minutes 23 seconds), counselling of prescription medicine (8 minutes 51 seconds) and OTC medicine (8 minutes) which on average took longer to conduct than in the previous analysis. The study highlighted the value added to the wellness and quality of life of the community of South Africa through the delivery of pharmaceutical care and pharmaceutical services by community pharmacy staff, and proved that pharmacists are committed to the provision of pharmaceutical care and pharmaceutical services.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2010
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