The purpose of this study was to explore nurse-patient encounters from the perspective of the Home Healthcare Registered Nurse. A qualitative descriptive design was used to collect data from a purposive sample of 20 home healthcare registered nurses from Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island currently or previously employed as a home healthcare nurse. Four themes and one interconnecting theme emerged from the data: Objective Language; Navigating the Unknown; Mitigating Risk; Looking for Reciprocality in the Encounter; and the interconnecting theme of Acknowledging Not All Nurse-Patient Encounters Go Well. One goal of the study was to propose an empirically informed definition of what constituted a difficult encounter. An important early finding was that the terms difficult patient and difficult encounter were not generally used by study participants. HHC RNs voiced a preference for objective and nonjudgmental language to communicate outcomes of nurse-patient encounters. Three types of HHC RN-patient interactions emerged from the data, with constructive encounters the norm and non-constructive or destructive encounters less frequent. A constructive encounter is when two or more human beings, the nurse on the one side, and the patient, caregiver, or both on the other, interact to achieve a mutually agreed upon outcome. A nonconstructive encounter is when one or more human beings obstruct efforts to achieve at least one positive outcome. A destructive encounter is when one or more human beings direct anger at or physically aggress toward another human being. Strategies to promote reciprocality are routinely employed during HHC RN-patient encounters, but HHC RNs who miss cues that a strategy is ineffective or failed may be at risk in the home. Study data lend support to key concepts, assumptions, and propositions of Travelbee’s (1971) Human-to-Human Relationship Model. Study results provide a foundation for further research to increase the understanding, recognition, and development of empirically derived responses to non-constructive or destructive encounters such that HHC RNs are safe and best able to meet patients’ healthcare needs.

This study investigated access and use of information in the health-care of home-based elderly people (EPs) in Nakuru District, Kenya. The literature review revealed a gap with respect to information behaviour in health-care of EPs in a development context. The researcher used qualitative methods; with exploratory and descriptive research design because the focus of the study was on the littleknown and socially disadvantaged community of EPs in Nakuru District. Respondents were sampled by using the snowball technique. At the end of an interview session, each respondent was encouraged to nominate someone who either shared the same or had different experiences, views, socio-economic levels and gender. The researcher collected data through face-to-face interviews with EPs, informal care providers (ICPs) and formal health-care providers (FHCPs), in order to gain insight of information behaviour in health-care of EPs, by focusing on aspects of information needs; sources; use of information and factors that influence the respective groups of respondents to access and use health-care information health-care of EPs. The findings showed that the respective groups of respondents had similar as well as diversified needs for information for health-care. The groups used both formal and informal sources of information and channels of communication to access information for health-care, with FHCPs using authoritative sources more than the EPs and ICPs. Factors such as being a professional or a lay person, cost, ease of accessibility, availability of sources and channels of communication, time and trustworthiness of a source or channel of communication determined preference for use of information. The major contribution of the study is to the theory about information behaviour: some EPs and ICPs used CAM services without informing FHCPs, thereby revealing a form of concealed information use behaviour (CIUB). / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

According to the Ministry of Health (1996:26), the most common chronic/terminal illnesses were cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, cancer, mental disorders, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and asthma. Long term treatment and care and the growing incidence of these conditions necessitated the introduction of home-based care (HBC). Consequently, family care givers play a major role in the provision of care to chronically/terminally ill patients and professional health care providers adopt a supervisory role. This study examined the quality of home care services provided in Botswana. The availability and accessibility of home-based care services and resources have a direct bearing on the quality of home-based care delivery system. The researcher used systems theory was used as the conceptual framework for this study. The study aimed to • determine the accessibility and availability of home-based care services in Molepolole East • investigate what the perspectives and experiences of family care givers, patients and professional health care providers of Botswana home-based care are • determine the roles of professionals health care providers, patients, and family care givers and their relationships in the context of home- based care • identify the needs of chronically/terminally ill patents and family care givers • determine the type of support given to family care givers and patients by professional health care providers and make recommendations for the improvement of home-based care • develop a model to prepare family care givers The research design combined quantitative and qualitative research methods. A sample of convenience was used to obtain information from patients' family care givers and professional health care providers. Interviews and questionnaires were used. A proposed care giving preparedness model is presented to meet needs of the family care givers. The study found that family care givers needs are neither known nor catered for by the professional health care provider. The family care givers were not adequately prepared before adopting the care-giving role. It is recommended that • The proposed preparedness care giving training model is considered for training of patients and family care givers before discharge and during HBC. • Increase patients and family care givers decision-making / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

This study investigated access and use of information in the health-care of home-based elderly people (EPs) in Nakuru District, Kenya. The literature review revealed a gap with respect to information behaviour in health-care of EPs in a development context. The researcher used qualitative methods; with exploratory and descriptive research design because the focus of the study was on the littleknown and socially disadvantaged community of EPs in Nakuru District. Respondents were sampled by using the snowball technique. At the end of an interview session, each respondent was encouraged to nominate someone who either shared the same or had different experiences, views, socio-economic levels and gender. The researcher collected data through face-to-face interviews with EPs, informal care providers (ICPs) and formal health-care providers (FHCPs), in order to gain insight of information behaviour in health-care of EPs, by focusing on aspects of information needs; sources; use of information and factors that influence the respective groups of respondents to access and use health-care information health-care of EPs. The findings showed that the respective groups of respondents had similar as well as diversified needs for information for health-care. The groups used both formal and informal sources of information and channels of communication to access information for health-care, with FHCPs using authoritative sources more than the EPs and ICPs. Factors such as being a professional or a lay person, cost, ease of accessibility, availability of sources and channels of communication, time and trustworthiness of a source or channel of communication determined preference for use of information. The major contribution of the study is to the theory about information behaviour: some EPs and ICPs used CAM services without informing FHCPs, thereby revealing a form of concealed information use behaviour (CIUB). / Information Science / D. Litt. et Phil. (Information Science)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:58:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Elaine_Thume.pdf: 18793701 bytes, checksum: d3fde162138334bf4245a3608227a48e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-09-28 / In the first article we assessed the utilization of home care by the elderly in Brazil after implementation of the Family Health Strategy (FHS). Data were derived from a crosssectional study in a southern city in Brazil. Using the Chi-square test and a logistic regression with different levels of determination, we tested the hypothesis that the FHS increased the utilization of home care compared with utilization under the Traditional Primary Health Care (TPHC) system. We interviewed 1593 residents aged 60 years and older. Home care utilization under the FHS was 2.7 times the rate of utilization under the TPHC (95% confidence interval=1.5, 4.7; P=.001), and utilization increased among the older group, the less educated, those with history of hospitalization, and those with functional limitations. Improvement in access to care resulted in greater utilization of home care. Our findings have policy implications that include expanding the coverage of the FHS throughout big cities where coverage is limited. These findings are important because the population is aging and the family strategy operates in poorer areas; thus, it can promote equity in access to home health care among the elderly. In the second article the objective was to assess factors associated with home health care for the elderly and its characteristics based on different care models, the Family Health Strategy and Traditional primary care. It also describes the forms of access, the professionals who provide the care, the elderly satisfaction and health status after receiving care. Poisson regression model was used for estimating crude and adjusted prevalence ratios, their related 95% confidence intervals and p-values (Wald test). Home health care was statistically associated with prior history of stroke, signs of dementia and disability in activities of daily living. The family was requested 75% of home care visits. Medical doctors provided most of the care in Traditional primary care settings while nursing staff provided most care within the Family Health strategy. Approximately 78% of the elderly received care within 24 hours after the request and 95% of them positively evaluated the care received. Two thirds of the elderly reported improved health status after receiving home care. The variables associated with home health care were consistent with vulnerability indicators included in the Brazilian National Health Policy for the Elderly, reinforcing the role of this strategy for promoting equitable health care to elderly population. Users satisfaction and the positive impact on their health status support home as a setting for providing care. The objective of the third article was to review the literature in search for tools and indicators proposed for the study of quality assessment of care for the elderly at home. Nineteen articles were selected for inclusion in the analysis. Two instruments are highlighted in the study of quality home care: the Outcome and Assessment Information Set and the Minimum Data Set - Home Care. The hospitalization rate, functional capacity and pain control indicators were used in both instruments to assess quality. This review may help the discussion about the relevance in the development of specific instruments and appropriate indicators to assess home care provided in primary health care, mainly due to the expansion and consolidation of family health strategy. / A Politica Nacional de Saude da Pessoa Idosa preconiza a manutencao do idoso na comunidade, com o apoio dos familiares e o estabelecimento de uma rede social de ajuda. Portanto, o modelo assistencial dos servicos de atencao basica a saude precisa adequar-se a esta nova demanda, identificando precocemente idosos em situacao de fragilidade e resgatando o domicilio como ambiente terapeutico. O objetivo desta tese foi avaliar o desempenho dos servicos de atencao basica no atendimento domiciliar aos idosos, os fatores associados e as caracteristicas do acesso, segundo os modelos de atencao estrategia Saude da Familia e Tradicional. Os dados foram coletados através de um estudo transversal realizado em Bage, no Rio Grande do Sul, no ano de 2008. Um total de 1.593 idosos com 60 anos ou mais de idade responderam ao questionário aplicado por entrevistadores no proprio domicilio. Nas areas cobertas pelas equipes Saude da Familia a utilizacao de assistencia domiciliar foi 2,7 vezes maior comparadas com as areas sob responsabilidade da atencao basica Tradicional (IC95% 1,5-4,7; p=0,001). A utilizacao de assistencia domiciliar foi maior entre os idosos mais velhos, com menor escolaridade, com historia de hospitalizacao no ultimo ano, historia previa de derrame, sinais de demencia e incapacidade para as atividades da vida diaria. O fato da estrategia Saude da Familia operar em areas de maior vulnerabilidade social sugere uma maior equidade no acesso a assistencia domiciliar entre os idosos. Nestas areas, a maior prevalencia de idosos com renda per capita de ate um salario minimo e sem acesso a plano de saude indica que a Saude da Familia permitiu diminuir a desigualdade financeira no acesso aos cuidados domiciliares. As variaveis associadas a utilizacao de assistencia domiciliar reiteram os indicadores de fragilidade destacados na Politica Nacional de Saude da Pessoa Idosa. Estes achados devem servir de estimulo a expansão da cobertura da Saude da Familia nos grandes centros urbanos, locais onde a cobertura ainda e limitada. A familia teve papel central e foi responsavel por 75% das solicitações de cuidado. Nas areas da atencao Tradicional, os medicos responderam pela maior promocao de cuidados, enquanto, nas areas da estrategia Saude da Familia, destacou-se a participacao da equipe de enfermagem. Independente do modelo de atencao, aproximadamente 78% das solicitacoes foram atendidas em ate 24 horas e 95% dos usuarios avaliaram positivamente o cuidado recebido. Dois tercos dos idosos referiram melhora nas condicoes de saude apos atendimento. As avaliacoes positivas realizadas por idosos e familiares, e o impacto na situacao de saude reforcam o domicilio como ambiente terapeutico. A tese tambem contem uma revisao da literatura sobre instrumentos e indicadores utilizados para avaliar a qualidade da assistencia domiciliar. Entre os dezenove artigos que preencheram os criterios de inclusao, a maioria foi realizada na America do Norte e na Europa. Os principais indicadores de qualidade utilizados referem-se a mudancas na capacidade funcional entre a admissao e a alta domiciliar, internacao hospitalar no periodo e as taxas de vacinacao.

MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies

MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies

MPM / Oliver Tambo Institute of Governance and Policy Studies / See the attached abstract below

According to the Ministry of Health (1996:26), the most common chronic/terminal illnesses were cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, cancer, mental disorders, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and asthma. Long term treatment and care and the growing incidence of these conditions necessitated the introduction of home-based care (HBC). Consequently, family care givers play a major role in the provision of care to chronically/terminally ill patients and professional health care providers adopt a supervisory role. This study examined the quality of home care services provided in Botswana. The availability and accessibility of home-based care services and resources have a direct bearing on the quality of home-based care delivery system. The researcher used systems theory was used as the conceptual framework for this study. The study aimed to • determine the accessibility and availability of home-based care services in Molepolole East • investigate what the perspectives and experiences of family care givers, patients and professional health care providers of Botswana home-based care are • determine the roles of professionals health care providers, patients, and family care givers and their relationships in the context of home- based care • identify the needs of chronically/terminally ill patents and family care givers • determine the type of support given to family care givers and patients by professional health care providers and make recommendations for the improvement of home-based care • develop a model to prepare family care givers The research design combined quantitative and qualitative research methods. A sample of convenience was used to obtain information from patients' family care givers and professional health care providers. Interviews and questionnaires were used. A proposed care giving preparedness model is presented to meet needs of the family care givers. The study found that family care givers needs are neither known nor catered for by the professional health care provider. The family care givers were not adequately prepared before adopting the care-giving role. It is recommended that • The proposed preparedness care giving training model is considered for training of patients and family care givers before discharge and during HBC. • Increase patients and family care givers decision-making / Health Studies / D.Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

The study sought to explore professional nurses' perceptions of the roles of home and community-based carers in the Capricorn district of the Limpopo province as well as the problems they experienced and make recommendations to improve the quality of home and community-based care. A qualitative approach with non-probability, purposeful sampling was used in this study. The sample consisted of professional nurses serving as focal points for home-based care in the area of the study. The findings indicated that professional nurses believe that carers have a role in providing care to the community and serve as the extended hands of their services. However, challenges exist, which impact on the quality of service delivery. Recommendations included the strengthening of existing elements, such as improving relationships, communication, and the care of carer's programme, carer training, reporting, and monitoring and carer distribution. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)