Patient-Centred Quality Care: An Assessment of Patient Involvement

Background: There is limited research on patients’ involvement in healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa. Patients’ involvem ent is important in improving health service delivery as well as health outcomes. Materials and Methods: A patients’ involvement assessment was carried between September and November 2010 in 18 different health facilities using an interviewer administered checklist. The purpose was to assess patients’ involvement from the provider perspective in HIV care hospitals and clinics with the aim of improving quality of care. A score ranging from zero to three was used to grade the different level of patient involvement at the health facilities. Results: Only 11% of the 18 different health facilities achieved the highest score of three, whereby consumer input is incorporated into setting quality goals and results of quality activities that are routinely communicated to patients and other consumers. The remaining 89% of the facilities had gaps with regard to patient involvement in health care. Conclusion: Majority of the facilities did not have structures that involve patients in quality improvement projects, advocacy and routinely communicating to patients and developing other patient centred quality activities. It is important to build sustainable and lasting partnerships for patients’ involvement in health systems and health delivery. Patients’ involvement should be placed as a fundamental priority in scaling up quality health services at the primary level.