Management of hypertension in mental health patients in a primary care setting : an assessment of quality of care

Includes summary.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-48).In his experience working in the Metro District Health Services Clinics of the Department of Western Cape, the researcher has encountered numerous cases of sub-standard quality of medical care for mental health patients. These encounters, as well as a need to audit the general quality of care of patients with chronic diseases of lifestyle, have been the motivation behind the creation of this research project.The study is a retrospective cohort study using patient folders as a source of data. It compares the standards, processes and outcomes of the management of hypertension in two populations at Crossroads Community Health Clinic in Cape Town. The first cohort consists of hypertensive patients with psychiatric illnesses, and the second are hypertensive patients without psychiatric illnesses. The study attempts to examine the quality of care of established hypertension in patients with psychiatric illnesses

The extent of interruptions to primary care medical officers’ consultations in the Western Cape

Background: Administrative tasks are an increasing burden for primary care doctors globally and linked to burnout. Many tasks occur during consultations. They cause interruptions with possible effects on patients’ and doctors’ experiences and care. The burden and typology of interruptions of doctors in primary care consultations have not been studied in South Africa. Given the link between administrative loads and burnout, describing the extent of these interruptions would help. This study’s aim was to assess the extent of interruptions on primary care doctors in the Western Cape. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Doctors from rural and urban primary care clinics in the Western Cape answered an online self-administered survey on the types of interruptions experienced during consultations. Interruptions were categorised and their prevalence calculated. Clinical and non-clinical interruption categories were compared. Results: There were 201 consultations from 30 doctors. Most interruptions were from retrieving and recording the current patient’s information (93.0%), paperwork for other patients (50.7%), and telephone calls about the current patient (41.8%). Other prevalent interruptions were for emergencies (39.8%) and acquiring consumables (37.3%). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) of four (2–4) interruption types per consultation was higher than global settings. Conclusion: Doctors experienced many interruptions during consultations. Their wide range included interruptions unrelated to the current patient. Contribution: This study adds insights from the global south on clinicians’ administrative burden. It elaborates on the types of activities that interrupt consultations in an upper-middle income primary care setting. Exploration of interventions to decrease this burden is suggested

The primary care provider’s role in providing supportive and palliative care for patients in chronic renal failure

Primary care providers are at the core of providing supportive and palliative care to patients with chronic kidney disease in South Africa. Although dialysis is not always needed, and sometimes not appropriate, for all patients with end-stage kidney disease, there is always supportive and palliative care that can be provided to patients and families to improve outcomes. This article explores the referral pathways, renal preservation, supportive and palliative care and, finally, health system interventions that can improve comprehensive care. The integration of renal supportive and palliative care is a relatively new concept in the paradigm of care and will require advocacy and research to ensure all South African patients have access throughout the trajectory of illness

Common mental disorders are not diagnosed commonly in community health centres

Background: Very limited published data exist on the spectrum of mental health disorders encountered at primary health care (PHC) facilities in South Africa. Methods: The original data from a recent study were analysed with regard to its useful set of data on patients with mental disorders in primary care clinics in Cape Town. Results: Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder accounted for the majority of visits, with common mental disorders (depression, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders) accounting for only a minority of visits. Furthermore, the mental health population in the study had significantly fewer chronic disease co-morbidities than the non-mental health patients. Conclusion: There is an urgent need to screen better for common mental disorders in primary care patients in South Africa, and to screen for chronic medical diseases in patients with serious mental illness