- Title
- Perceptions and Attitudes of Health Care Professionals Regarding the Role of Clinical Associates in District Hospitals in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
- Creator
- Nomzingisi Princess Mnyipika
- Description
- ABSTRACT Introduction National Department of Health of South Africa introduced clinical associates in 2002 to work under the supervision of medical doctors in district hospitals. The first cohort of clinical associates was trained at Walter Sisulu Universty, Eastern Cape in 2008. However, there is no information about the attitudes and how other healthcare professionals within the health team and health setting perceive them. Aim The study assessed the knowledge, perceptions and attitudes of other health care professionals towards the clinical associates’ role. Methods This was a cross-sectional survey with attitudes and perceptions as dependent variables and role of clinical associates as independent variable. This study was carried out in four district hospitals in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, namely, Mthatha General, St Barnabas, Madwaleni and All Saints hospitals. Quantitative and qualitative approaches were used for this study. The study population included other healthcare professionals working within the study setting. A simple random sampling procedure was utilized to recruit doctors and nurses in the four district hospitals. Associations between dependent variables (inhibiting factors of effectiveness, scope of practice, benefits from clinical associates to health care, place and overall acceptance of clinical associates (CAS) in district hospitals, personnel monitoring CAS, concerns for diagnosis and management of patients, concerns about performing clinical procedures) and independent and explanatory variables (age, gender, occupation, ethnic group, qualifications, religion, inhibiting factors of effectiveness) were presented using Chi- square test. Student t- test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare means between two groups and ≥3 groups, respectively. P-value < 0.05 was significant for differences.ii Results The participants were characterized by male predominance (28 male professionals vs 9 female professionals), mean age of 59.5 % married, 54 % Christians, 86.5 % Blacks, 78.4 % doctors vs 21.6 % nurses, duration for clinical associates ≥ 1 year by 71.1 % participants, clinical associates supervision in the department by 51.4 % participants. The perceptions were positive about clinical associates on scope of practice (as assistant doctors) in 73 %, Benefits to healthcare in 86.5 %, no concerns on diagnosis and management of patients in 83.8 % and positive relevance in 73.3 %. The magnitude of barriers to positive perceptions about CAS was in non-acceptance by doctors in 67.6 %, concerns about performing clinical procedures in 94.6 %, and knowledge in 94.6 %. For attitudes, personnel monitoring of CAS was positive in 81.1 %, and appointment of more number of CAS was also positive in 83.3 %, need of CAS in district hospitals was expressed in 81.1 %. Respondents with positive perceptions of CAS considered as assistant doctors were older (age = 42.7 ± 16.3 years: P = 0.039) than those with negative perceptions (age = 31 ± 8.7 years). Respondents with negative perceptions from CAS were younger (age = 25.6 ± 5.3: P = 0.028) than those with positive perceptions (age = 41.7 ± 15.4 years). Female gender, Blacks, Christian religion, lowest qualifications of respondents were significantly associated with positive perceptions. There was agreement between quantitative approach and qualitative approach according perceptions and attitudes on the role of CAS. Conclusion These findings demonstrated excellent levels of social accountability for the role of clinical associates in the healthcare system and delivery of patient care. However, recommendations are necessary to minimize few barriers to integration of CAS in the healthcare system.
- Date
- 2018
- Type
- Master
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/11260/2729
- Identifier
- vital:42848
- Contributor
- Z. Vundle
- Publisher
- Walter Sisulu University
- Language
- English
- Rights
- Walter Sisulu University
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Collections
WSU Department of Public Health
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Details Download | SOURCE1 | Final document mnyipika.pdf | 1 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |