Curative primary health care nurses are the first level of contact with health personnel the patient has when entering the district-driven health system of South Africa. It is imperative that these nurses are competent, or patients may suffer. Several factors exist as barriers to competent curative care. Donabedian's structure-process-outcome framework has been used in the study of these factors. Literature were selected from international and national studies of nursing to discover barriers and enablers in general nursing care but also specifically in curative primary health care. The curative primary health care nurses in the Southern Cape/Karoo region were used as a sample for the study. Data gained from questionnaires were organised to present the findings: Barriers to a curative PHC service seem to be multifactorial, with scarce resources causing great stress for the workforce. This have a negative impact on relationships between employer and employee, CPHCNs and their patients, the type of managing that take place, and the quality of the examination and treatment of patients. Slow changes frustrates workers, causing more stress and poor attitudes, feelings of not being valued, and not being motivated (internally and externally). Enablers examined showed that although the workforce may be discontented and overworked, they still try to deliver their best, with few medical mistakes. Patients still have a lot of respect for their healthcare deliverers, but this trend may not continue for much longer. Patients are already returning more often to clinics, causing even more stress for staff. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

Curative primary health care nurses are the first level of contact with health personnel the patient has when entering the district-driven health system of South Africa. It is imperative that these nurses are competent, or patients may suffer. Several factors exist as barriers to competent curative care. Donabedian's structure-process-outcome framework has been used in the study of these factors. Literature were selected from international and national studies of nursing to discover barriers and enablers in general nursing care but also specifically in curative primary health care. The curative primary health care nurses in the Southern Cape/Karoo region were used as a sample for the study. Data gained from questionnaires were organised to present the findings: Barriers to a curative PHC service seem to be multifactorial, with scarce resources causing great stress for the workforce. This have a negative impact on relationships between employer and employee, CPHCNs and their patients, the type of managing that take place, and the quality of the examination and treatment of patients. Slow changes frustrates workers, causing more stress and poor attitudes, feelings of not being valued, and not being motivated (internally and externally). Enablers examined showed that although the workforce may be discontented and overworked, they still try to deliver their best, with few medical mistakes. Patients still have a lot of respect for their healthcare deliverers, but this trend may not continue for much longer. Patients are already returning more often to clinics, causing even more stress for staff. / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)

The purpose of the study was to describe and explore the provision of quality care in the primary health care clinics of Limpopo within the framework of the Batho Pele principles' service standards by determining the level of implementation of these principles. The aim was to improve compliance with the Batho Pele principles. The researcher conducted a quantitative, exploratory and descriptive study in four selected primary health care clinics. Data collection was done using structured questionnaires for interviews and observation. Two groups of respondents participated in the study, namely patients (n=185) and nurses (n=21). The study highlighted the level of implementation of the Batho Pele principles in four primary health care clinics in the Capricorn District, Limpopo. The findings revealed that the Batho Pele principles were regarded as important criteria to assess quality care. Recommendations were made to improve the level of implementation of some of the principles. / Health Studies / M. A. (Health Studies)

Text in English / Interactive health communication between the health-care professional (HCP) and patient relationship for diabetes health-care positively contributes to patient-centred care. Hence individual patient concerns are addressed and catered for in the medical system. The purpose of this study was to analyse in-depth how HCP-patient relationships and HCP-HCP teamwork dynamics positively contribute to effective diabetes patient care and treatment adherence. Different health communication models and theories were reviewed and a conceptual framework was developed from the literature. A qualitative case study approach was used to collect data at Stanger Hospital’s diabetes clinic. Data was collected using three different methods, namely in-depth interviews with HCPs and patients individually, observations conducted at the clinic analysing both the HCPs and patients, and finally, documentation that emerged as a third data collection method where patient files and diabetes educational material were analysed at the clinic. Triangulation by means of the three methods ensured that reliable, valid and credible data was collected in the field. Diabetes health-care and treatment management are affected by the social context/social system which includes family and culture. These social factors are acknowledged as core in the literature. However, a single comprehensive health communication model did not exist solely in this regard. The data indicated that at the Stanger Hospital’s diabetes clinic, patient-centred (individual tailor-made treatment plans) care was only implemented after patients had defaulted treatment for reasons linked to their social circumstances. The findings of the study indicate that teamwork was favoured in the HCP-HCP relationship at the diabetes clinic, and that this made a positive contribution to effective diabetes patient care. HCPs were overburdened at the clinic since patient numbers were high and there were staff shortages. The patients’ empirical data indicated that interactive communication positively contributed to their medical concerns being catered for at the diabetes clinic, but this tended to occur only after non-adherence. Patients required care and support from HCPs in order to learn to accept diabetes and manage their illness. / Sociology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Sociology)