Satisfaction of HIV patients with task-shifted primary care service versus routine hospital service in northern Thailand

Authors

  • Myo Nyein Aung Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Saiyud Moolphate Faculty of Science and Technology, Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, Thailand
  • Tsutomu Kitajima Faculty of Social Sciences, Kyorin University, Japan
  • Yaowaluk Siriwarothai Sanpatong Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand
  • Piyaporn Takamtha Sanpatong Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand
  • Chitima Katanyoo  Faculty of Science and Technology, Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, Thailand
  • Hiroshi Okamura Faculty of Social Sciences, Kyorin University, Japan
  • Malcom Field Faculty of Social Sciences, Kyorin University, Japan
  • Osamu Noyama Tokyo Kasei University, Tokyo, Japan
  • Pongsak Wannakrairot Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Virat Klinbuayaem Sanpatong Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.7661

Keywords:

task shifting, ART, HIV, Thailand, patient satisfaction

Abstract

Introduction: Shifting the task of HIV care to primary care providers is an important strategy to sustain expanding access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in high HIV burden countries like Thailand. In a pilot project, the task of following up ART-receiving patients was shifted from a physician-led HIV clinic team based at district level community hospital, to a nurse-led primary healthcare team of seven primary care centers, based at sub-district level in a district of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. This study aimed to evaluate the task-shifted ART service in a patient-centered approach.

Methodology: Patients’ satisfaction level was assessed cross-sectionally in a sample of 198 patients, which included 66 people living with HIV (PLHIV) receiving task-shifted ART service and matched controls in a ratio of 1:2. HIV immunological outcome was compared in a retrospective cohort of a year follow-up. Transculturally translated patient satisfaction questionnaire short form (PSQ-18) was used. Multivariate analysis of variance compared seven domains of patients’ satisfaction levels.

Results: Community hospital patients expressed significantly higher levels of satisfaction with the technical quality, communication, and time spent by the service provider, whereas the task-shifted model patients experienced significantly better accessibility and convenience of the service. At the one-year follow up, CD4 counts of the two groups were not significantly different.

Conclusion: Future research and training programs should aim to improve the technical quality and communication skills of nurse-led ART service teams to shift the task of HIV care and sustain expansion of ART access in primary care settings.

Downloads

Published

2015-12-30

How to Cite

1.
Aung MN, Moolphate S, Kitajima T, Siriwarothai Y, Takamtha P, Katanyoo  C, Okamura H, Field M, Noyama O, Wannakrairot P, Klinbuayaem V (2015) Satisfaction of HIV patients with task-shifted primary care service versus routine hospital service in northern Thailand. J Infect Dev Ctries 9:1360–1366. doi: 10.3855/jidc.7661

Issue

Section

Original Articles