Partnerships in specialty care: exploring rural haemophilia provider resource needs.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether rural providers have adequate preparation for safe and effective haemophilia care.


METHODS
This qualitative study proceeded in two phases: focus group (phase I) and telephone (phase II) interviews.


METHODS
Five Canadian rural hospitals served by one urban haemophilia treatment centre and providing service to at least one haemophilia family.


METHODS
Phase I: focus groups of rural health professionals (site 1: n = 5; site 2: n = 6), including nursing, medicine and lab technology. Phase II: telephone interviews with nine participants from nursing, medicine, lab technology, social work and physiotherapy across three sites.


METHODS
Qualitative content analysis yielded categorical themes for specialty care resource requirements in a rural context.


RESULTS
Resource needs reflected five main categories: communication network, subjective knowledge, team roles, objective knowledge and partnerships (C-STOP).


CONCLUSIONS
The five C-STOP categories require resources and alignment of urban specialist, rural provider and family expertise. Specialty clinic efforts promoting self-care are incomplete without matched resources for rural providers.
Pritchard
Andrea M
AM
Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. apritchard@mtroyal.ca
Reimer
Marlene
M
Simonson
Kari
K
Oberle
Kathleen
K
D002170:Canada; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D006780:Hospitals, Rural / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires