A Cross-case Analyses of Laboratory Professionals-patients Interaction for Patients Accessing Laboratory Services at University of Cape Coast Hospital and Ewim Polyclinic in the Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana

Overview

Journal BMC Health Serv Res

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Health Services

Date 2021 May 29

PMID 34049548

Authors

Patrick Adu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: There is scarcity of data on experiences of patients who access laboratory services during hospital visits in sub-Saharan Africa. This study sought to evaluate the depth of laboratory professionals-patient interactions during pre- and post-sampling period at two hospitals in Ghana.

Methods: This study used real time observations of patient-laboratory staff interactions to collect first-hand data. Additionally, two separate sets of semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data on the experiences of patients and laboratory professionals. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analysed using SPSS version 25.

Results: Inadequate laboratory space is a major factor limiting adequacy of patients-laboratory professionals' interactions. Overall, even though the laboratory professionals (93.3%) overwhelmingly agreed to the need to inform patients about the turnaround time of the respective laboratory testing, this was not routinely done. Irrespective of patients' educational attainment, patients were poorly informed about their respective laboratory tests. Although both patients and laboratory professionals (60.0% vs 63.6% respectively) indicated that the test requester has responsibility to inform patients about their laboratory testing, only 29.1% of patients indicated having received such explanations. Furthermore, although 28.1% of patients indicated knowing the specifics of their respective test requisition, only 15% could correctly identify their requested laboratory testing.

Conclusion: There is the need for standard operating protocols to standardize practitioner-patient interaction at the two facilities. Moreover, there is the need for laboratory staff-test requester engagement to clearly delineate who has what responsibilities regarding informing patients about laboratory testing.

References

De Rezende H, Melleiro M, Shimoda G . Interventions to reduce patient identification errors in the hospital setting: a systematic review protocol. JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep. 2019; 17(1):37-42. DOI: 10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-003895. View

Goulet F, Hudon E, Gagnon R, Gauvin E, Lemire F, Arsenault I . Effects of continuing professional development on clinical performance: results of a study involving family practitioners in Quebec. Can Fam Physician. 2013; 59(5):518-25. PMC: 3653659. View

Bartlett G, Blais R, Tamblyn R, Clermont R, MacGibbon B . Impact of patient communication problems on the risk of preventable adverse events in acute care settings. CMAJ. 2008; 178(12):1555-62. PMC: 2396356. DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.070690. View

van der Tuuk Adriani W, Sibinga S . The pyramid model as a structured way of quality management. Asian J Transfus Sci. 2009; 2(1):6-8. PMC: 2798754. DOI: 10.4103/0973-6247.39503. View

Tuijn C, Msoka E, Mushi D, Sumari-De Boer M, Chilongola J, van den Broek A . The interface between clinicians and laboratory staff: A field study in northern Tanzania. Afr J Lab Med. 2017; 3(1):126. PMC: 5637763. DOI: 10.4102/ajlm.v3i1.126. View

Plebani M . What information on quality specifications should be communicated to clinicians, and how?. Clin Chim Acta. 2004; 346(1):25-35. DOI: 10.1016/j.cccn.2004.03.019. View

Howanitz J, Howanitz P . Laboratory results. Timeliness as a quality attribute and strategy. Am J Clin Pathol. 2001; 116(3):311-5. DOI: 10.1309/H0DY-6VTW-NB36-U3L6. View

Ali F, Pulido L, Garza M, Amerson M, Greenhill B, Brown K . A professional development model for medical laboratory scientists working in the Core Laboratory. Clin Lab Sci. 2012; 25(2):67-73. View

Hawkins R . Laboratory turnaround time. Clin Biochem Rev. 2008; 28(4):179-94. PMC: 2282400. View

10.

Norouzinia R, Aghabarari M, Shiri M, Karimi M, Samami E . Communication Barriers Perceived by Nurses and Patients. Glob J Health Sci. 2016; 8(6):65-74. PMC: 4954910. DOI: 10.5539/gjhs.v8n6p65. View

11.

Eickhoff T . Airborne nosocomial infection: a contemporary perspective. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1994; 15(10):663-72. DOI: 10.1086/646830. View

12.

Kaushik N, Khangulov V, OHara M, Arnaout R . Reduction in laboratory turnaround time decreases emergency room length of stay. Open Access Emerg Med. 2018; 10:37-45. PMC: 5916382. DOI: 10.2147/OAEM.S155988. View

13.

Hailu H, Desale A, Yalew A, Asrat H, Kebede S, Dejene D . Patients' satisfaction with clinical Laboratory Services in Public Hospitals in Ethiopia. BMC Health Serv Res. 2020; 20(1):13. PMC: 6942306. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-019-4880-9. View

14.

Badrick T . Evidence-based laboratory medicine. Clin Biochem Rev. 2013; 34(2):43-6. PMC: 3799218. View

15.

Vincent J, Rello J, Marshall J, Silva E, Anzueto A, Martin C . International study of the prevalence and outcomes of infection in intensive care units. JAMA. 2009; 302(21):2323-9. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2009.1754. View

16.

Watts N . Reproducibility (precision) in alternate site testing. A clinician's perspective. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1995; 119(10):914-7. View

17.

Richardson D . Increase in patient mortality at 10 days associated with emergency department overcrowding. Med J Aust. 2006; 184(5):213-6. DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2006.tb00204.x. View