CHALLENGES FACED BY PHYSIOTHERAPY PRACTITIONERS AND PATIENTS REGARDING CONTINUITY OF CARE AT THE UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITALS LUSAKA, ZAMBIA.

Abstract

Continuity of care is a fundamental dimension of quality of care and patient satisfaction, because it leads to quality and coordinated health care delivery, increased patient trust and condence. To explore the challenges that patients and Physiotherapy practitioners face regarding continuity of care at the University Teaching Hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia. The study employed a phenomenological qualitative design, using in-depth interviews with eight physiotherapy practitioners and six patients with varying medical conditions, aged 18 years and above. This study used a purposive sampling technique based on the researcher’s judgment of the subjects. This is a form of non-probability sampling in which decisions concerning the individuals to be included in the sample were taken by the researcher, based upon a variety of criteria, including specialist knowledge of the research issue, or capacity and willingness to participate in the research. All patients reported having multiple Physiotherapy service providers, which sometimes led to uncoordinated treatment sessions. In addition, ve out of six patients cited the high cost of transport fares from their homes to the hospital and work schedules clashing with hospital appointments as most critical factors that led to discontinuity in physiotherapy care. On the other hand, physiotherapy practitioners reported difculties following up on the progress of patients due to the functional design of the Physiotherapy department which requires them to operate from both the passive and active areas of the department. High physiotherapy practitioners’ turnover per patient, long distance from patients’ homes to the hospital as well as the physical demarcation of the department of Physiotherapy into active and passive treatment areas hinder continuity of care at the University Teaching Hospitals.