Experiences of healthcare workers working in poorly resourced medical care units in Vhembe district hospitals, Limpopo Province.

Abstract

Experiences of healthcare workers working in poorly resourced medical care units in Vhembe district hospitals, Limpopo province. Background: The medical care unit is an inpatient unit that provides quality medical and nursing care to a wide range of patients. Serving a patient population from young adults (age 18) to geriatric patients who are admitted with gastrointestinal disorders, heart or lung conditions, and chronic conditions, it was crucial to explore the experiences of healthcare workers working in poorly resourced medical care units in hospitals. The resources include human and material resources. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the experiences of healthcare workers working in poorly resourced medical care units within hospitals. Objectives: To explore and describe the experiences of healthcare workers in poorly resourced medical care units. Methodology: In this study, a qualitative research approach was adopted, with an exploratory and descriptive design. The purposive sampling approach was used to select nurses and medical doctors who have been working in hospital medical care units for at least 1 year. The data collection tool was pretested to assess the interviewer's skills and ensure that participants understood the study's central question, thereby enabling in-depth data collection. The data were collected from 26 healthcare workers using face-to-face unstructured individual interviews. However, data collection was determined by data saturation at participant number 23. The thematic data technique was used to analyse data. Measures to ensure trustworthiness: The researcher ensured trustworthiness through measures of credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability. Ethical considerations: The researcher ensured that research ethics were observed, including informed consent, permission, confidentiality, beneficence, and privacy throughout the study. Findings: The study's findings may provide the Department of Health with solutions to plan and address the experiences of healthcare workers in poorly resourced medical care units within hospitals in the Vhembe District of Limpopo Province. Recommendations: The study recommends that the National government allocates an adequate budget to equip the healthcare facilities with resources. Again, healthcare workers need management's support, as they are psychologically and emotionally impacted.