School of Global & Public Health

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Browsing School of Global & Public Health by Author "Grace, Chigalu, Chingwalu"

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    Psychosocial care for road traffic injury patients: An exploration of service provision to patients attending Orthopaedic Clinic at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi.
    (2022-03-01) Grace, Chigalu, Chingwalu
    Every year the lives of approximately 1.35 million people globally, are cut short as a result of a road traffic crash. Road traffic accidents are responsible for different types of injuries and disabilities which affect the individual’s quality of life as they may suffer limitations in physical, social and mental well- being. However, the nursing practice at QECH does not focus much on psychosocial wellbeing of patients. This study therefore, explored the provision of psychosocial services to patients with road traffic injuries attending Orthopaedic clinic at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, Malawi. Literature shows that psychosocial care in patients with orthopaedic injuries is important as it involves collaboration between health care professionals as well as multidisciplinary care. This was a qualitative study employing a phenomenological design which focused on nurses, caregivers and patients. A purposively selected sample of 20 adult patients, who were attending adult orthopaedic clinic at QECH were interviewed. The sample was selected from orthopaedic patients attending clinic at QECH. Data analysis was done manually by following principles of thematic content analysis. Psychosocial issues are not recognized and nurses focus their care on Bio-physiological issues. Over 75% of the participants felt that delay to go to theatre lengthened their stay in hospital which further affected the patients psychosocially since their financial resources became depleted more and more. Holistic approach to patients’ care is necessary to provide psychosocial care to orthopaedic trauma patients. There should be development of standardized guidelines which will include psychosocial care in dealing with orthopaedic trauma patients.