Patient views on the management of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in the Kimberley: a qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe, from a patient perspective, factors leading to suboptimal management of individuals with rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) among members of the Kimberley population.


METHODS
Qualitative in-depth semistructured and repeated interviews of seven Kimberley patients, or parents of children, with rheumatic fever and/or rheumatic heart disease, during 1998.


RESULTS
Participants showed variable levels of understanding about RF/RHD, often relating to the need for secondary prophylaxis. Compliance with medication was closely linked with positive patient-staff interactions. From the perspective of health care, living in a remote location was frequently described as a negative influence. Participants desire more accessible and culturally appropriate opportunities for learning about their disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Participants focused on issues closely related to effective and ineffective management of RF/RHD. The lessons learned are indicators for health staff attempting to improve the quality of management that people receive.
Mincham
Christine M
CM
School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Toussaint
Sandy
S
Mak
Donna B
DB
Plant
Aileen J
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D033262:Narration; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014904:Western Australia