A Qualitative Study on Patient-Centered Care and Perception of Nurses in Primary Healthcare Practice

Abstract

Background: Patient-centered care (PCC) approach has continued to gain recognition globally as the key to providing quality healthcare. However, this concept is not fully integrated into the management of primary health care (PHC) in existing nursing practice due to numerous challenges. Among these challenges is the perception of nursing on PCC in the Primary Health Care system. This study seeks to present the results of qualitative research performed at various selected PHC centers on nurses’ perceptions in PCC practice.Aim: This study aims at exploring the perception of nurses on PCC.Method: A qualitative research approach was adopted for this study. This study involved thirty local government PHC centers located in Osun State of southwest Nigeria. The sample comprised 28 female nurses and 7 male nurses. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview schedule in different sessions that were conducted on a one on one basis. Thereafter, data analysis was performed using thematic analysis and NVivo 12 software to generate themes, subthemes, and codes.Results: The findings of the study revealed a number of perceptions on PCC that were categorized into positive and negative themes. The negative themes include: Poor approach by the nurses and lack of enforcement agency. The positive themes that emerged include: Outcome-driven healthcare, valued care provider, communication to sharpen care, and driven healthcare service. In addition, the findings established a positive correlation between perception and years of working experience. 68.5 % of the participants, who had working experience in the range of 12 – 31 years, expressed a mixed perception of PCC practice. The remaining 31.5 % of the participants interviewed who had working experience in the range of 2, 6 – 11 years, expressed positive perceptions on the provision of PCC. Conclusion: From the findings of this study, there is a need for the government to enforce the utilization and provision of PCC in the PHC setting. This should be done through the provision of an enabling environment in the PHC setting. In addition, the government should provide regulations and monitoring mechanisms in the PHC institutions. Enforcement agencies should also offer opportunities for continuous training to enhance the nursing care skills of nurses to stimulate and sustain improved healthcare services. Lastly, the government should remunerate and promote nurses based on merit as another means of supporting improved healthcare service delivery by the nurses.