BackgroundSexual problems are common. Many patients with sexual health dysfunction use self-help literature or are often managed in general practice. However, many general practitioners (GPs) find it difficult to discuss sexual health issues because they feel uncomfortable with this and lack training in these matters. These GPs are now referring patients with sexual dysfunction to specialists.AimWe sought to explore how GPs working in the Mabopane and Ga-Rankuwa areas of handle sexual problems of their patients.SettingThe setting was the Mabopane and Ga-Rankuwa areas of North-West Tshwane, in Gauteng Province.MethodsA qualitative study comprising eight free attitude interviews with purposefully selected four male and four female GPs. All interviews were conducted in English and tape-recorded. Field notes in the form of a detailed diary was kept. The tapes were transcribed verbatim, and the transcriptions were checked against the tapes for omissions and inaccuracies.ResultsSix themes emerged from the interviews: causes of sexual problems; presentation of sexual problems to the doctor; management of sexual health problems; sex is a taboo topic; society's need for sexual health discussions, and these discussions have already begun; previous limited exposure and training, and a need for more sexual health training.ConclusionThis study confirms earlier findings that patients could be either reluctant to discuss their problems or are open about them when presenting to doctors with sexual dysfunction. GPs were not exposed to sexual health training at medical school and, because of this shortcoming, felt that training in sexual medicine should be part of the curriculum.
Hypertension is a common chronic condition. A sound understanding of people's beliefs is required in this regard. Usually, poor compliance and decisions by patients to stop taking conventional treatment and to use complementary remedies and traditional remedies arise from poor knowledge of hypertension. The complications of hypertension in non-adherent patients are a concern at Katleho District Hospital. This study sought to explore the knowledge of and beliefs held by patients attending Katleho District Hospital in Virginia on hypertension. Method: An exploratory descriptive qualitative study was conducted on hypertensive patients attending the outpatient department of Katleho District Hospital. Ten key informants were purposively selected. The exploratory question asked of participants was: "Could you please explain to me your beliefs on, and what you understand about, high blood pressure?" Themes were identified manually and ideas grouped using the cut and paste method. Results: Five themes were identified, namely correct knowledge about hypertension, incorrect knowledge of hypertension, lack of knowledge regarding hypertension, beliefs about it and misconceptions about it. There were 19 subthemes. Participants demonstrated good knowledge of hypertension, its causes, symptoms and management. However, beliefs and misconceptions influenced their interpretation and response to hypertension. Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of understanding patients' knowledge and beliefs in order to forge relationships that promote optimal care and compliance with treatment.
Aim: To determine the characteristics of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis registered in primary health care facilities in Moses Kotane region North West Province. Method: A retrospective record review of pulmonary TB patients registered in five community health centres (CHCs) in 2010 was conducted. Results: Of the 229 new patients diagnosed using sputum microscopy or culture, 176 were cured and 53 were not cured. The mean age for cured patients was 36.4 years and 34.0 years for not cured patients with standard deviations of 13.5 and 11.4 respectively (p-value 0.195). In total, 97 (55.1%) female patients and 79 (44.9%) male patients were cured while 24 (45.3%) female patients and 29 (54.7%) male patients were not cured (p-value 0.214). Among the 169 unemployed patients, 120 (68.2%) were cured and 40 (75.5%) were not cured. Of the 69 patients with employment, 56 (31.8%) were cured and 13 (24.5%) failed to cure (p-value 0.394). Of 176 cured patients, 130 had directly observed treatment (DOT) support while 31 of 53 not cured patients did not have DOT support (p-value 0.00002). Some 154 (67.2%) patients were HIV positive and among them 119 (67.6%) were cured and 35 (66.0%) were not cured while of the 75 who were HIV negative 57 (32.4%) were cured and 18 (33.9%) were not cured (p-value 0.8680). Conclusion: DOT support was a strong predictive characteristic for the outcomes of these TB patients during their treatment with a statistically significant difference between cured and not cured patients; the majority of not cured patients did not have DOT support. Other characteristics like gender, age, HIV status, employment or other medical conditions did not show any statistically significant difference between cured and not cured patients. (Full text of the research articles are available online at www.medpharm.tandfonline.com/ojfp) S Afr Fam Pract 2017; DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2016.1272249
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