TY - JOUR
T1 - Patient experiences in managing non-communicable diseases in Namibia
AU - MPharm Class of 2021
AU - Jonkman, Lauren J.
AU - Tsuchihashi, Kayo
AU - Liu, Emily
AU - Lates, Jennie
AU - Niaz, Qamar
AU - Rennie, Timothy
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported in part by a Fulbright Scholar Award from the U.S. Department of State . The authors report no declarations of interest. The authors alone were responsible for the writing and content of the paper.
PY - 2020/11/30
Y1 - 2020/11/30
N2 - Introduction: The prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is rising in Namibia, and with it, the need for pharmacists to empower patients. This research aims to 1) identify patient-reported barriers and facilitators to managing chronic NCDs for Namibians, and 2) characterize common patient-reported medication and health-related needs of Namibians with chronic NCDs. Methods: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to elicit participant perspectives regarding NCDs. The study used the conceptual frameworks of the Health Belief Model, the Theory of Planned Behavior, and the Explanatory Models of Illness to identify and understand key factors necessary to develop relevant patient-centered interventions. Participants were recruited from pharmacies throughout Namibia. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis from the transcribed interviews. Results: A total of 23 interviews were conducted, with 20 being included in the final analysis. Themes identified included: 1) participants were motivated to seek care when they were symptomatic; 2) participants felt motivated to care for their condition to improve their own lives and their families for their family's sake; 3) participants integrated information from a variety of sources into their disease knowledge; 4) participants describe wanting to be more engaged in managing their health and wanting support to help manage their condition; 5) participants describe awareness of lifestyle changes necessary to improve health, but face many barriers to achieving them. Conclusion: This study identified key factors that are essential for pharmacists and other health care professionals to be aware of in order to support patients who are diagnosed with an NCD. Health care providers should consider strategies to engage patients to harness their motivations, enhance health education, and create systems to reduce barriers to addressing lifestyle.
AB - Introduction: The prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is rising in Namibia, and with it, the need for pharmacists to empower patients. This research aims to 1) identify patient-reported barriers and facilitators to managing chronic NCDs for Namibians, and 2) characterize common patient-reported medication and health-related needs of Namibians with chronic NCDs. Methods: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to elicit participant perspectives regarding NCDs. The study used the conceptual frameworks of the Health Belief Model, the Theory of Planned Behavior, and the Explanatory Models of Illness to identify and understand key factors necessary to develop relevant patient-centered interventions. Participants were recruited from pharmacies throughout Namibia. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis from the transcribed interviews. Results: A total of 23 interviews were conducted, with 20 being included in the final analysis. Themes identified included: 1) participants were motivated to seek care when they were symptomatic; 2) participants felt motivated to care for their condition to improve their own lives and their families for their family's sake; 3) participants integrated information from a variety of sources into their disease knowledge; 4) participants describe wanting to be more engaged in managing their health and wanting support to help manage their condition; 5) participants describe awareness of lifestyle changes necessary to improve health, but face many barriers to achieving them. Conclusion: This study identified key factors that are essential for pharmacists and other health care professionals to be aware of in order to support patients who are diagnosed with an NCD. Health care providers should consider strategies to engage patients to harness their motivations, enhance health education, and create systems to reduce barriers to addressing lifestyle.
KW - Explanatory models
KW - Health behaviors
KW - Health beliefs
KW - Namibia
KW - Non-communicable diseases
KW - Patient experiences
KW - Patient perspectives
KW - Sub-saharan africa
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85090725193&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.08.004
DO - 10.1016/j.sapharm.2020.08.004
M3 - Article
C2 - 32919919
AN - SCOPUS:85090725193
SN - 1551-7411
VL - 16
SP - 1550
EP - 1557
JO - Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy
JF - Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy
IS - 11
ER -