Perspective of Patients & Health Care Providers Regarding Responsiveness at Fatima Jinnah Chest hospital, Quetta. A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Tuberculosis is highly contagious with an estimated global incidence of 10 million in 2018. Pakistan has the world’s 5th highest Tuberculosis burden. Achieving adequate responsiveness remains an elusive challenge for Pakistan's health system. Many factors regarding eight dimensions of the health system responsiveness are leading to a huge number of missing cases, loss to follow up and treatment failure and thus burden of the disease is increasing significantly. Objectives: To explore the perspective of health care providers and patients regarding the responsiveness. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in Fatima Jinnah Chest Hospital, Quetta from February 2021 to July 2021. Two Focus Group Discussions comprising of 8-12 Health Care Providers of Fatima Jinnah Chest Hospital were conducted. Non- Probability purposive sampling was employed. Thematic Analysis was done. Results: Advance technology, communication barrier, basic facilities, and patient overflow were four overlapping themes that emerged from focus group discussion of health care providers. Conclusions: Overall results and findings indicate that there is a need for investment in both material and structured improvements at Fatima Jinnah Chest Hospital and improvement of services at primary level to reduce burden at tertiary care hospital like Fatima Jinnah.