Abstract:
Introduction
Good adherence to rehabilitative services is critical for optimal health.
Practitioners assume that if the patients fail to show up for their appointments
they have lost interest. This study sought to establish the reasons for the
poor adherence of patients with different forms of neurological disorders at the
rehabilitative services of the outpatients department of Tambo Memorial
Hospital (TMH).
Methods
This study used a mixed methods study design. One-on-one interviews with
patients booked to receive therapy at TNM and who failed to attend therapy
were done (n=12). For triangulation purposes interviews were conducted with
the patients who have never missed sessions (n=5).
Results
A total of eight of the participants from both groups said that they had not
accepted their condition. The participants gave very positive feedback on the
rehabilitative services received at the hospital, but said circumstances beyond
their control had caused them to miss a session. The need to earn income
among those working in the informal sector was a negative influence on
adherence.
Conclusion
The reasons for adherence or lack of it are not easily established.
Contributing factors however were noted in this study. These include
participants not being able to go to their therapy sessions due to a fear of losing their jobs, unavailability of a mode of transport, poor services at primary
health care clinics when down referred.
Information obtained from the study will assist health professionals at TMH to
provide services that are more tailored to the patients and improve
adherence.
