ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Evidence-base practice needs to be supported by guidelines and decision-making protocols. This study aimed to look into the barriers and facilitators of adherence to national protocols in Ethiopia. METHODS: Exploratory qualitative method was implemented to explore adherence to protocol. The national COVID-19 case management guideline was used as this study's prototype reference. A total of five FGDS were conducted among 26 healthcare providers. A total of 14 physicians and 12 nurses participated in the FGDs. Semi-structured focus group discussions guides were used to facilitate the discussion among healthcare workers involved in COVID-19 case management. The FGDs were audio recorded, transcribed and analyzed thematically. RESULTS: Three broad themes have emerged from the content analysis. These include individual factors, environmental factors and system factors. System factors barriers to utilization include unclear guidelines, discordant guidelines and a lack of live national guidelines, while the main facilitator was supportive management. The environmental factors that were barriers to adherence included limited infrastructure and shortages of drugs suggested in the protocols. CONCLUSION: Outdated and discordant guidelines and a shortage of suggested managements were barriers. Future similar works should consider the identified barriers and need regular updates to facilitate effective implementation.
ABSTRACT
Background: After the first few cases of COVID 19, the Ministry formed a medical expertise group consisting of 12 multi-disciplinary teams on March 18th, 2020, to advise on containing the disease, prevention, and to provide treatment for the affected individuals. The present study describes the experience, input, and challenges faced by the national clinical advisory team during the pandemic response (1).
ABSTRACT
Background: After the first few cases of COVID 19, the Ministry formed a medical expertise group consisting of 12 multi-disciplinary teams on March 18th 2020, to advise on containing the disease, prevention, and to provide treatment for the affected individuals. The present study describes the experience, input, and challenges faced by the national clinical advisory team during the pandemic response (1). Objective: The aim of this study was to review the experience and contribution of the clinical advisory team in response to COVID 19 in Ethiopia for future related actions. Methods: A qualitative descriptive analysis of clinical advisory team contributions for pandemic control. Finding: The multi-disciplinary team was formed by the Minister to provide a high-level advisory role, develop different protocols, guidelines, recommendations, and clinical formats, and for the involvement in the establishment of quarantine, isolation, and treatment centers. The team provided mentorship in all regions and city administrations of the country on the site and virtually. Advisory team analysis and interpretation of timely evidence had a positive contribution to pandemic response, and it made the policymakers' decision evidence based. During the stay, the team had closely worked with multiple agencies, institutions, and associations. Avoiding role confusion, having clear coordination and communication in an emergency can result in avoidance of duplication of effort and rapid early implementation of response measures. Conclusions: The contribution of the team has created a great opportunity by providing scientific guides and recommendations for policymakers, clinicians, and health facility leaders.
ABSTRACT
Background: Disasters, especially natural disasters, are inevitable and occur globally, which affect communities. Therefore, countries arc recommended to have a system for disaster management. The Minister of health-Ethiopia established a disaster medical assistance team as part of disaster countermeasures. The present study describes the establishment, operation, and challenges of the team (1,2,3,4). Objective: The aims of this analysis are to review the disaster medical assistant team establishment and disaster response experiences in Ethiopia. Methods: A desk review and analysis of secondary data for the disaster medical assistant team establishment and disaster response experiences in Ethiopia. Result: In August 2018, the ministry of Health-Ethiopia took the first step-in health system development history by establishing and having a successful achievement in the medical disaster response system. Some of the achievements are basic training, which had been cascaded to 678 multi-disciplinary professionals, through the deployment of the team to mass gathering events, and different disaster responses. The team was involved in conflict-based causality responses in Metekel Benishangul Gumz region in 2018, 2019 Ethiopian plane crash, COVID 19 response, and Tigray region mass causality response following incident since October 2020. Since the birth of the team, DMAT faced structural, security, lack of adequate necessary resources challenges. Due to pushing factors in the course of time, the active national team number decreased by 48.57% currently. Conclusions: The ministry of Health encouraged an appreciable step in the establishment, as well as through disaster responses in early phases, however, its success was not maintained and the status of DMAT indicated that it may become obsolete unless corrective interventions are implemented.