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Research article
Rebecca Nantanda
Makerere University Lung Institute
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5039-8489
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This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background Respiratory diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Uganda, but there is little attention to chronic respiratory diseases in the health programmes. In general, there is limited capacity and clinical experience for chronic illness. This survey assessed the gaps in knowledge and skills, among healthcare workers in managing respiratory illnesses.
Methods A cross sectional study was conducted among primary care health workers, specialist physicians and health care planners to assess gaps in knowledge and skills as well as training needs in managing respiratory illnesses. The perspectives of patients with respiratory diseases were also sought. Data were collected using questionnaires, patient panel discussions and review of pre-service training curricula for clinicians, nurses and midwives. Survey Monkey was used to collect survey data. Descriptive statistical analysis was undertaken for quantitative data, and thematic content analysis for qualitative data.
Results A total of 104 respondents participated in the survey and of these, 76.9% (80/104) were primary care health workers, 16.3% (17/104) specialists and 6.7% (7/104) healthcare planners. Over 90% of the respondents indicated that more than half of their patients presented with respiratory symptoms. More than half (52%) of the primary care health workers were not comfortable in diagnosing and managing chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD. Only 4% of them were comfortable performing procedures like pulse oximetry, nebulization, and interpreting x-rays. Majority (75%) of the primary care health workers had received in-service training but only 4% of the sessions focused on respiratory diseases. The clinicians indicated that the pre-service training curricula included a wide scope of respiratory diseases, but the actual training had not sufficiently prepared them to manage respiratory diseases. The patients were unsatisfied with the care in primary care facilities and reported that they were often treated for the wrong illnesses.
Conclusions Respiratory illnesses contribute significantly to the burden of diseases in primary care facilities in Uganda. Management of patients with respiratory diseases remains a challenge partially because of inadequate knowledge and skills of the primary care health workers. A training programme to improve the competences of health workers in respiratory medicine is highly recommended.
Keywords
respiratory diseases, primary care, health workers, knowledge, skills
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On 20 Mar, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 20 Mar, 2020
Version 2
Posted 04 Dec, 2019
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Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 13 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 06 Dec, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 06 Dec, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 05 Dec, 2019
Editor assigned
On 27 Nov, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 26 Nov, 2019
Editor invited
On 26 Nov, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 25 Oct, 2019
Review #3 received
Received 21 Oct, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 17 Oct, 2019
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 12 Oct, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 09 Oct, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 01 Oct, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 04 Jul, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 25 Jun, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 25 Jun, 2019
Editor assigned
On 19 Jun, 2019
Editor invited
On 18 Jun, 2019
First submitted
On 17 Jun, 2019
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A new preprint design is coming!
We have improved readability, clarity, accessibility, and opportunities for engagement.
See the published version of this preprint at BMC Health Services Research.
This is a preprint, a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Rebecca Nantanda
Makerere University Lung Institute
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5039-8489
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
View the published article at BMC Health Services Research.
No community comments so far
Submission checks complete
On 20 Mar, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 20 Mar, 2020
Version 2
Posted 04 Dec, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 13 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 06 Dec, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 06 Dec, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 05 Dec, 2019
Editor assigned
On 27 Nov, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 26 Nov, 2019
Editor invited
On 26 Nov, 2019
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 25 Oct, 2019
Review #3 received
Received 21 Oct, 2019
Review #2 received
Received 17 Oct, 2019
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 12 Oct, 2019
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 09 Oct, 2019
Submission checks complete
On 01 Oct, 2019
Review #1 received
Received 04 Jul, 2019
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 25 Jun, 2019
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 25 Jun, 2019
Editor assigned
On 19 Jun, 2019
Editor invited
On 18 Jun, 2019
First submitted
On 17 Jun, 2019
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published article at BMC Health Services Research.
Background Respiratory diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Uganda, but there is little attention to chronic respiratory diseases in the health programmes. In general, there is limited capacity and clinical experience for chronic illness. This survey assessed the gaps in knowledge and skills, among healthcare workers in managing respiratory illnesses.
Methods A cross sectional study was conducted among primary care health workers, specialist physicians and health care planners to assess gaps in knowledge and skills as well as training needs in managing respiratory illnesses. The perspectives of patients with respiratory diseases were also sought. Data were collected using questionnaires, patient panel discussions and review of pre-service training curricula for clinicians, nurses and midwives. Survey Monkey was used to collect survey data. Descriptive statistical analysis was undertaken for quantitative data, and thematic content analysis for qualitative data.
Results A total of 104 respondents participated in the survey and of these, 76.9% (80/104) were primary care health workers, 16.3% (17/104) specialists and 6.7% (7/104) healthcare planners. Over 90% of the respondents indicated that more than half of their patients presented with respiratory symptoms. More than half (52%) of the primary care health workers were not comfortable in diagnosing and managing chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD. Only 4% of them were comfortable performing procedures like pulse oximetry, nebulization, and interpreting x-rays. Majority (75%) of the primary care health workers had received in-service training but only 4% of the sessions focused on respiratory diseases. The clinicians indicated that the pre-service training curricula included a wide scope of respiratory diseases, but the actual training had not sufficiently prepared them to manage respiratory diseases. The patients were unsatisfied with the care in primary care facilities and reported that they were often treated for the wrong illnesses.
Conclusions Respiratory illnesses contribute significantly to the burden of diseases in primary care facilities in Uganda. Management of patients with respiratory diseases remains a challenge partially because of inadequate knowledge and skills of the primary care health workers. A training programme to improve the competences of health workers in respiratory medicine is highly recommended.
Figure 1
Figure 2
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