The reality of workplace culture in critical care units in South Africa

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Authors

Heyns, Tanya
Mccormack, Brendan
Van Eeden, Ilze Emelia
Rossouw, Seugnette
Filmalter, Cecilia Jacoba
De Kock, Joanita
Coetzee, Isabella M.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

IFE Center for Psychological Studies

Abstract

Healthcare services are expected to shift towards person-centredness, which is underpinned by the values of respect for persons, individual right to self-determination, mutual respect and understanding. The workplace culture in the South African critical care context have been reported as encompassing poor adherence to routine and evidence-informed practices and decreased accountability and responsibility of nurses. A total of 230 hours of participants’ observation were undertaken in 11 critical care units, using the Workplace Culture Critical Analysis Tool was used. Data analysis were collaborative analyses and participants reached consensus on six themes, namely hierarchical care and caring, disconnected communication, impeded learning environment, professional transgression, team ineffectiveness and demanding environment. The poor quality of care reported in the South African critical care context is confirmed by the unfavourable ‘non-person-centred’ workplace culture observed in both private and public critical care units.

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Keywords

Acute care, Critical care, Person-centred care (PCC), Research in practice, Workplace culture

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Heyns, T., Mccormack, B., Van Eeden, I. et al. 2021, 'The reality of workplace culture in critical care units in South Africa', Gender & Behaviour, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 18134-18140.