Diabetes-Related Healthcare Services in Nepal—A Qualitative Exploration of Healthcare Professionals’ Opinions
Healthcare professionals’ level of engagement in diabetes care and their perceptions of challenges to effective diabetes care are key indicators impacting diabetes management. This study investigated diabetes-related healthcare services provided in Nepal, and explored healthcare professionals’ opini...
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doaj-9f18c95e805b4237b4b81e6bf7b4d9662020-11-25T03:28:52ZengMDPI AGPharmacy2226-47872020-07-01813113110.3390/pharmacy8030131Diabetes-Related Healthcare Services in Nepal—A Qualitative Exploration of Healthcare Professionals’ OpinionsSujata Sapkota0Jo-anne E. Brien1Parisa Aslani2School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, AustraliaSchool of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, AustraliaSchool of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, AustraliaHealthcare professionals’ level of engagement in diabetes care and their perceptions of challenges to effective diabetes care are key indicators impacting diabetes management. This study investigated diabetes-related healthcare services provided in Nepal, and explored healthcare professionals’ opinions of the barriers to, and strategies for, effective diabetes care. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with thirty healthcare professionals providing healthcare or medication-related services to patients with type 2 diabetes within Kathmandu Valley. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Participants were physicians, dieticians, nurses and pharmacy staff. Diabetes care services varied between healthcare institutions, between healthcare professionals and between patients, with the overall patient-care model reported as sub-optimal. Diabetes related services were mostly limited to physician-patient consultations. Only a few hospitals or clinics provided additional diabetes education classes, and individual dietician or nurse consultations. Limited collaboration, large patient-load and workforce shortages (particularly lack of diabetes educators) were reported as major issues affecting diabetes care. Regulatory measures to address healthcare system barriers were identified as potential facilitators for effective diabetes management. Whilst the findings are specific to Nepal, there are lessons to be learnt for other healthcare settings as the fundamental barriers to optimal diabetes care appear to be similar worldwide.https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/8/3/131type 2 diabetesdiabetes carehealthcare professionalsqualitative studyNepal |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Sujata Sapkota Jo-anne E. Brien Parisa Aslani |
spellingShingle |
Sujata Sapkota Jo-anne E. Brien Parisa Aslani Diabetes-Related Healthcare Services in Nepal—A Qualitative Exploration of Healthcare Professionals’ Opinions Pharmacy type 2 diabetes diabetes care healthcare professionals qualitative study Nepal |
author_facet |
Sujata Sapkota Jo-anne E. Brien Parisa Aslani |
author_sort |
Sujata Sapkota |
title |
Diabetes-Related Healthcare Services in Nepal—A Qualitative Exploration of Healthcare Professionals’ Opinions |
title_short |
Diabetes-Related Healthcare Services in Nepal—A Qualitative Exploration of Healthcare Professionals’ Opinions |
title_full |
Diabetes-Related Healthcare Services in Nepal—A Qualitative Exploration of Healthcare Professionals’ Opinions |
title_fullStr |
Diabetes-Related Healthcare Services in Nepal—A Qualitative Exploration of Healthcare Professionals’ Opinions |
title_full_unstemmed |
Diabetes-Related Healthcare Services in Nepal—A Qualitative Exploration of Healthcare Professionals’ Opinions |
title_sort |
diabetes-related healthcare services in nepal—a qualitative exploration of healthcare professionals’ opinions |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Pharmacy |
issn |
2226-4787 |
publishDate |
2020-07-01 |
description |
Healthcare professionals’ level of engagement in diabetes care and their perceptions of challenges to effective diabetes care are key indicators impacting diabetes management. This study investigated diabetes-related healthcare services provided in Nepal, and explored healthcare professionals’ opinions of the barriers to, and strategies for, effective diabetes care. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with thirty healthcare professionals providing healthcare or medication-related services to patients with type 2 diabetes within Kathmandu Valley. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Participants were physicians, dieticians, nurses and pharmacy staff. Diabetes care services varied between healthcare institutions, between healthcare professionals and between patients, with the overall patient-care model reported as sub-optimal. Diabetes related services were mostly limited to physician-patient consultations. Only a few hospitals or clinics provided additional diabetes education classes, and individual dietician or nurse consultations. Limited collaboration, large patient-load and workforce shortages (particularly lack of diabetes educators) were reported as major issues affecting diabetes care. Regulatory measures to address healthcare system barriers were identified as potential facilitators for effective diabetes management. Whilst the findings are specific to Nepal, there are lessons to be learnt for other healthcare settings as the fundamental barriers to optimal diabetes care appear to be similar worldwide. |
topic |
type 2 diabetes diabetes care healthcare professionals qualitative study Nepal |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4787/8/3/131 |
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