The Health Care Needs of the Physically Disabled Patient in a Home-Based Care Environment: Implications for the Training of Ancillary Health Care Workers

RESUMO

According to existing literature; ancillary health care workers (AHCWs) often do not meet the health care needs of patients with physical disabilities (physically disabled patients) in a home-based environment; because of inadequate training programmes. The purpose of this research study was to explore the health care needs of physically disabled patients in long-term; home-based care in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg and; based on results; to offer recommendations for the training of AHCWs. Qualitative; exploratory; descriptive and contextual means were employed in data collection and analysis. The population consisted of eight physically disabled participants who employed an AHCW to assist them with their long-term home care. Purposive sampling was used with subsequent snowballing to identify further participants for the study. Individual interviews were conducted; where participants had to answer the questions (1)'What are your health care needs?' and (2) 'How should these be met?' Data saturation was ensured; after which Tesch's method of data analysis was followed. Three categories of health care needs were identified (1) physical health care needs; (2) interpersonal relationship needs and (3) social needs; and 12 themes were derived from these categories. These categories of health care needs should be addressed in the training of AHCWs. From the themes; recommendations were described for the training of AHCWs on the health care needs of the home-based physically disabled patients. The AHCW should assist in the adaptation of the environment to the patient's individual needs; and should use knowledge and critical thinking skills to ensure a patient-centred care setting: