Challenges to the improvement of Colombian medical brigades aimed at the diagnosis of congenital heart disease Academic Article

journal

  • Global Public Health

abstract

  • Qualitative research of brigades and the family experience of congenital heart disease is of current interest and has been previously neglected. This study aimed to explore the social factors conditioning outcomes of paediatric cardiology care in the setting of Colombian medical brigades and to identify feasible strategies to improve the experience of the beneficiary populations. Participants were selected using purposeful sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of logistic and health care teams, caregivers and custodians of beneficiary children of the Programme. The data collected provided an understanding of the health culture, social background, household and intrafamily dynamics. The outcomes of the Programme are influenced by sociocultural dynamics such as communication gaps and the socioeconomic status of the beneficiary populations. Findings may be specific to brigades, but also cross-relevant to any family experience of a new diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) communicating with healthcare professionals. It is important to foresee the role and further development of the Programme. Recommendations are provided suggesting innovative work by means of telemedicine and other sociocultural measures to reduce healthcare inequity and strengthen comprehensive healthcare programmes.

publication date

  • 2019-8-3

edition

  • 14

keywords

  • Cardiology
  • Caregivers
  • Child
  • Communication
  • Comprehensive Health Care
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Health
  • Healthcare
  • Heart Diseases
  • Interviews
  • Patient Care Team
  • Pediatrics
  • Population
  • Program Development
  • Qualitative Research
  • Social Class
  • Telemedicine
  • caregiver
  • communication
  • conditioning
  • experience
  • health
  • health care
  • heart disease
  • interview
  • logistics
  • qualitative research
  • social background
  • social factors
  • social status

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1744-1692

number of pages

  • 11

start page

  • 1193

end page

  • 1203