Understanding Health Care Referral Chain Challenges in Kwale County, Kenya: Creating an Optimized Referral Chain Model to Community Clinic
Wallenius, Viola (2024)
Wallenius, Viola
2024
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202401282071
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202401282071
Tiivistelmä
ABSTRACT
Viola Wallenius
Understanding healthcare referral chain challenges in Kwale County, Kenya – Creating an optimized referral chain model for a community clinic
54 Pages and 6 attachments
Spring 2024
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences
Master of Social Services
Global Change and Community Development
The purpose of the research and development study is to understand the referral chain challenges and vulnerabilities in Kwale County, Kenya. The study aims to improve the referral chain and reduce the risk of double medication or other harmful treatment errors by creating an optimized referral chain model. The study was implemented with a non-profit organization, Home Street Home, and its community health clinic project.
The study was structured by following the Donabedian’s Quality Framework (1988). The research part of the study was implemented by using qualitative methods with two surveys as the main data collection method. Twenty-four healthcare workers from eleven facilities and nine patients from three facilities responded. The data was analyzed by using content analysis method.
The result of the research shows that there is a clear need for improving the current and existing systems around the referral chain in Kwale County. The value of a well-structured and effective referral chain is recognized by both healthcare workers and patients. However, there is no common referral chain system or guideline that is followed by the different level facilities. Every facility has its procedures occasionally, and it is in the healthcare workers' hands to decide how to proceed with the referral. As a result of the research, the challenges and vulnerabilities, that are affecting the referral chain process in Kwale County, were identified. The findings are categorized into three by using Donabedian’s model: structures of healthcare, processes of patient care, and outcomes of an ineffective referral chain.
In the development part of the study, two co-creation workshops were organized in Home Street Home’s community center in Kenya. As a result, a referral chain model, referral form, and community awareness poster were created.
Learning more about the challenges and vulnerabilities in the healthcare referral chain has shown the critical part the referral system plays in individuals’ health. In the context of rural health, where poverty often forces people to seek healthcare services late, where the transportation system is unreliable, and where the healthcare system is still lacking common guidelines, the ideal outcomes of the care are not ensured. When a person from a vulnerable background is seeking help from healthcare, an unstable referral chain can cause severe outcomes.
Keywords: Healthcare, Referral, Kenya, Rural Health, Africa
Viola Wallenius
Understanding healthcare referral chain challenges in Kwale County, Kenya – Creating an optimized referral chain model for a community clinic
54 Pages and 6 attachments
Spring 2024
Diaconia University of Applied Sciences
Master of Social Services
Global Change and Community Development
The purpose of the research and development study is to understand the referral chain challenges and vulnerabilities in Kwale County, Kenya. The study aims to improve the referral chain and reduce the risk of double medication or other harmful treatment errors by creating an optimized referral chain model. The study was implemented with a non-profit organization, Home Street Home, and its community health clinic project.
The study was structured by following the Donabedian’s Quality Framework (1988). The research part of the study was implemented by using qualitative methods with two surveys as the main data collection method. Twenty-four healthcare workers from eleven facilities and nine patients from three facilities responded. The data was analyzed by using content analysis method.
The result of the research shows that there is a clear need for improving the current and existing systems around the referral chain in Kwale County. The value of a well-structured and effective referral chain is recognized by both healthcare workers and patients. However, there is no common referral chain system or guideline that is followed by the different level facilities. Every facility has its procedures occasionally, and it is in the healthcare workers' hands to decide how to proceed with the referral. As a result of the research, the challenges and vulnerabilities, that are affecting the referral chain process in Kwale County, were identified. The findings are categorized into three by using Donabedian’s model: structures of healthcare, processes of patient care, and outcomes of an ineffective referral chain.
In the development part of the study, two co-creation workshops were organized in Home Street Home’s community center in Kenya. As a result, a referral chain model, referral form, and community awareness poster were created.
Learning more about the challenges and vulnerabilities in the healthcare referral chain has shown the critical part the referral system plays in individuals’ health. In the context of rural health, where poverty often forces people to seek healthcare services late, where the transportation system is unreliable, and where the healthcare system is still lacking common guidelines, the ideal outcomes of the care are not ensured. When a person from a vulnerable background is seeking help from healthcare, an unstable referral chain can cause severe outcomes.
Keywords: Healthcare, Referral, Kenya, Rural Health, Africa