School of Nursing and Midwifery, Christian Service University College, Kumasi, Ghana.
Tema General Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
PLoS One. 2021 Jan 19;16(1):e0245451. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245451. eCollection 2021.
The increase in the number of elderly persons in developing countries has not had a corresponding increase in social and health care support systems for the elderly. There is a substantial difference in the quality of healthcare received by older people in developing and developed countries. Elderly persons in developing countries including Ghana are increasingly becoming marginalised and isolated. There is, however, limited evidence of healthcare challenges and expectations by elderly persons in Ghana. This study explored healthcare challenges and expectations of elderly persons to inform policy that could lead to improved quality of life for elderly persons in Ghana.
Qualitative exploratory descriptive study design was used in conducting this study. Semi-structured interviews were used in collecting data from 30 participants from three regions in Ghana (10 from each region). Data analysis was carried out through content analysis.
Four themes were extracted from data. These themes were: 1. Inadequate information from health workers regarding care of the older person. 2. Queuing frustrations. 3. Financial burden. 4. Focused elderly care demand.
The elderly in Ghana experience challenges of healthcare which include inadequate information, queuing frustrations and financial burdens. Elderly persons also have expectations of healthcare which include having dedicated professionals and units that will attend to them during their hospital visits. Academic and clinical gerontology experts could collaborate and help improve gerontology knowledge of health workers through workshops and conferences. Improving knowledge of health workers in gerontology may be a positive step towards meeting healthcare expectations of older Ghanaians.
发展中国家老年人口的增加并没有相应增加老年人的社会和卫生保健支持系统。发展中国家和发达国家的老年人所获得的医疗保健质量存在很大差异。发展中国家的老年人，包括加纳的老年人，越来越被边缘化和孤立。然而，加纳老年人的医疗保健挑战和期望的证据有限。本研究探讨了加纳老年人的医疗保健挑战和期望，以为加纳老年人的生活质量改善提供政策信息。
采用定性探索性描述性研究设计进行本研究。从加纳的三个地区（每个地区 10 名）的 30 名参与者中使用半结构化访谈收集数据。通过内容分析进行数据分析。
从数据中提取了四个主题。这些主题包括：1. 卫生工作者提供的有关老年人护理的信息不足。2. 排队的挫败感。3. 经济负担。4. 关注老年人的护理需求。
加纳的老年人在医疗保健方面面临挑战，包括信息不足、排队的挫败感和经济负担。老年人对医疗保健也有期望，包括有专门的专业人员和单位在他们住院期间照顾他们。学术和临床老年医学专家可以通过研讨会和会议合作，帮助提高卫生工作者的老年医学知识。提高卫生工作者的老年医学知识可能是满足加纳老年人医疗保健期望的积极步骤。
