title: Factors associated with patients' understanding of their management plan in Tshwane clinics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This research focused on patients' views regarding healthcare services and identified factors associated with understanding of their management plan.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop a baseline for patient-clinician collaboration and the extent to which patients felt included and understood their treatment plan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tshwane district (South Africa) public health outpatient clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical students interviewed 447 patients in 22 clinics in Tshwane district. Agreement was measured by the percentage of cases in which patients and clinicians were in accord about a particular aspect of the consultation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About one-third of patients incorrectly answered questions on whether changes in lifestyle or diet were prescribed as part of their treatment. The likelihood that patients understood their plan was associated with seeing the same clinician three or more times;having a consultation in their same or a similar language; patient participation in the diagnosis;and feeling that the clinician had explained their health problems to them.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is need for greater emphasis on continuity of care, the clinicians' ability to speak the patient's language and involving patients in the consultation.
authors.affiliation: University of Pretoria Department of Family Medicine. fernandezlet@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Leticia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rossouw
authors.forename: Tessa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reinbrech-Schutte
authors.forename: Nicoleen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Hans F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Kinkel
authors.forename: Shehla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Jannie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hugo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010358:Patient Participation; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D013019:South Africa