Open AccessBarriers to practicing patient advocacy in healthcare setting
Author(s) -
Nsiah Comfort,
Siakwa Mate,
Nini Jerry P. K.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
nursing open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.55
H-Index - 12
ISSN - 2054-1058
DOI - 10.1002/nop2.436
Subject(s) - health care , nursing , institution , qualitative research , interpersonal communication , medicine , psychology , content analysis , political science , sociology , social psychology , social science , law
Aim To explore barriers to practicing patient advocacy in healthcare setting. Design This study used a qualitative research approach to arrive at the study result. Methods Twenty‐five Registered Nurses were purposively selected. Semi‐structured interviews were used to collect data and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results The main theme identified was lack of cooperation between healthcare team, care recipients and the health institution which included the health institution and work environment, ineffective communication and interpersonal relationship, patients' family, religious and cultural beliefs. Unsuccessful advocacy resulted in increased complications, death, negative consequence on the health institution and nursing as a profession. This study has significantly created awareness of the need for an improved patient advocacy to enhance the quality and safety in the care of patients.