Empowering hypertensive patients on chronic medicines at primary health care facilities in South Africa with knowledge to improve disease management

Objectives: Uncontrolled hypertension negatively impacts on mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-driven patient counselling and education model to empower hypertensive patients on chronic medication. Methods: An operational research project with a quasi-experimental design including an intervention group (55 patients) and a control group (31 patients) of chronic hypertensive patients. Data were collected with interview-administered questionnaires and analysed using SAS® version 9.4. Pharmacist interventions included an educational diary on hypertension management and patient counselling. Findings: There was a 34.7% improvement in patients’ understanding of what normal blood pressure (BP) is in the intervention group compared to the control group (p90%). Conclusions: A pharmacist driven patient counselling and education model can help improve patients’ hypertension knowledge and BP control. These should increasingly become routine, aiming to improve chronic disease management

Patient satisfaction at accredited antiretroviral treatment sites in the Gert Sibande District

Background: Patient satisfaction has been used as a significant indicator of quality services provided by healthcare personnel. With the largest antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme in the world, the healthcare industry is struggling increasingly with challenges of meeting patients’ requirements and expectations for quality ART service provision. This study was conducted in order to identify the importance of factors contributing to satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Aim: This study sought to explore and describe the general satisfaction or dissatisfaction of patients with accredited ART hospital sites at public health facilities in the Gert Sibande District, Mpumalanga and to identify factors contributing to either satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Setting: Six hospitals that initiated ART in the district, participated in the study. Method: The study was conducted using a sample of 300 patients. Proportional random sampling was used in selecting the number of patients from each facility. A structured interview with each participating patient was conducted using a standardised structured questionnaire. The first available required number of patients that complied with requirements from each of the six hospitals was selected for the interview. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse data and data with qualitative aspects were captured and categorised manually. Results: The major factors contributing to satisfaction included the availability of medicines and knowledge regarding how to take medication. Factors contributing to dissatisfaction on the part of the patients included confidentiality issues, long waiting periods, shortage of staff and dirty toilets. Conclusion: This study indicated general satisfaction with the ART-related services at the accredited ART hospital sites in the Gert Sibande District. Regular monitoring and evaluation are recommended