Assessment of Follow-up Appointments And Visits System at The Neurology Clinic of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital: Clients And Providers Perspectives

ABSTRACT

This research is a cross sectional study which assessed the follow-up appointment and visit system at the neurology clinic of Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, from patients and health provider’s perspective. The specific objectives were; to explore how the perceived attributes of the follow-up appointment system affect clients adherence and use of the system, to determine client knowledge on the follow-up appointment system and how it affects their acceptance of the system and satisfaction with care, and lastly, to examine the enablers and barriers in the implementation of the follow-up appointment system from provider and client perspective. An explanatory sequential mixed method was employed where questionnaires were used to gather quantitative data from patients, after which a semi - structured interview guide was used to gather qualitative data from providers and selected clients. A total of 295 patients were used for the quantitative phase of the study whiles 10 service providers and 21 patients were available to share their views for the qualitative part. Findings of this study revealed that, communicativeness and trialability were influential in client adherence to the follow-up appointments and visits system. It was also observed that, compatibility, communicativeness and trialability of the follow-up appointments and visits system significantly affect the usage of system. Moreover, knowledge on the follow-up appointments and visits contributes to the acceptance and also influences satisfaction of the system. Barriers to the system include; academic engagements, poor adherence to time, distance, poor adherence to appointment schedule and lack of information, interpersonal relationship, security and confidentiality, distance, family Support and long waiting time. The enablers were; trust, persuasion, guidance on procedures, training, better health outcome, as well as patient involvement. The study recommended that innovative ways should be used to improve upon the attributes of the system examined in this study, most especially those that significantly affect adherence and usage. There is the need to improve upon channels of disseminating knowledge on the follow-up appointments and visits to clients. Also, the system should be made to be more userfriendly. Finally, policies should be put in place to provide measures to control the barriers that were identified as they hinder the implementation of the follow-up appointment system. This when done, would encourage patients to honour their follow-up appointments, even though keeping up with appointments are not always easy due to several reasons. The ultimate results would be best health outcome for patients with such specialized conditions.