The role of rehabilitation care workers in South African healthcare: A Q-methodological study

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Date

2019

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

AOSIS

Abstract

The South African Department of Health identified the need to train a new cadre of community health worker (CHW) in the field of rehabilitation as part of their 2030 Health Plan that aims to improve primary healthcare (PHC) and community-based rehabilitation (CBR). Community health workers can be effectively utilised in CBR if their role is understood and their potential is not limited by professional protectionism and scepticism. A clear understanding of the scope of practice of a new cadre will minimise resistance by health professionals. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore rehabilitation health professionals’ perception of the role of the new cadre, called rehabilitation care workers (RCWs), in South African healthcare. Q-methodology was used to gather and interpret the data. A convenient sample of 16 health professionals participated in the study. Participants ranked statements about the role of the RCWs from strongly agree to strongly disagree. Data were entered into PQMethod software program for statistical and factor analysis.

Description

Keywords

Community, Community-based rehabilitation, Community health workers, Intermediate care, Participation, Primary healthcare, South Africa

Citation

Gamiet, S., & Rowe, M. (2019). The role of rehabilitation care workers in South African healthcare: A Q-methodological study. African Journal of Disability, 8, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.4102/ajod.v8i0.537