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Nuss S, Majyambere JP, Ntaganda E, Forbes C, Nkurunziza J, Mugabo C, Cubaka V, Hedt-Gauthier B. Adaptation and validation of the Children's Surgical Assessment Tool for Rwandan district hospitals. Glob Health Action 2024; 17:2297870. [PMID: 38193438 PMCID: PMC10778412 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2023.2297870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Paediatric surgical care is a critical component of child health and basic universal health coverage and therefore should be included in comprehensive evaluations of surgical capacity. This study adapted and validated the Children's Surgical Assessment Tool (CSAT), a tool developed for district and tertiary hospitals in Nigeria to evaluate hospital infrastructure, workforce, service delivery, financing, and training capacity for paediatric surgery, for use in district hospitals in Rwanda. METHODS We used a three-round modified Delphi process to adapt the CSAT to the Rwandan context. An expert panel of surgeons, anaesthesiologists, paediatricians, and health systems strengthening experts were invited to participate based on their experience with paediatric surgical or anaesthetic care at district hospitals or with health systems strengthening in the Rwandan context. We used the Content Validity Index to validate the final tool. RESULTS The adapted tool had a final score of 0.84 on the Content Validity Index, indicating a high level of agreement among the expert panel. The final tool comprised 171 items across five domains: facility characteristics, service delivery, workforce, financing, and training/research. CONCLUSION The adapted CSAT is appropriate for use in district hospitals in Rwanda to evaluate the capacity for paediatric surgery. This study provides a framework for adapting and validating a comprehensive paediatric surgical assessment tool to local contexts in LMICs and used in similar settings in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Nuss
- Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jean Paul Majyambere
- Department of Surgery, Partners in Health Rwanda/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Butaro, Rwanda
| | - Edmond Ntaganda
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Kigali, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Callum Forbes
- Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Equity in Global Surgery, University of Global Health Equity, Butaro, Rwanda
| | - Jonathan Nkurunziza
- Department of Surgery, Partners in Health Rwanda/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Butaro, Rwanda
| | - Carol Mugabo
- Department of Surgery, Partners in Health Rwanda/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Butaro, Rwanda
| | - Vincent Cubaka
- Department of Surgery, Partners in Health Rwanda/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Butaro, Rwanda
| | - Bethany Hedt-Gauthier
- Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Nuss S, Nkurunziza J, Mugabo C, Kubwimana M, Benimana F, Uwera C, Nyirasabwa T, Nyirimanzi N, Forbes C, Majyambere JP, Kateera F, Hedt-Gauthier BL, Cubaka VK. Increasing access to pediatric surgical care: Assessing district hospital readiness in rural Rwanda. World J Surg 2024; 48:290-315. [PMID: 38618642 PMCID: PMC11008909 DOI: 10.1002/wjs.12032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Introduction/Background Safe and quality surgery is crucial for child health. In Rwanda, district hospitals serve as primary entry points for pediatric patients needing surgical care. This paper reports on the organizational readiness and facility capacity to provide pediatric surgery in three district hospitals in rural Rwanda. Methods We administered the Children's Surgical Assessment Tool (CSAT), adapted for a Rwandan district hospital, to assess facility readiness across 5 domains (infrastructure, workforce, service delivery, financing, and training) at three Partners in Health supported district hospitals (Kirehe, Rwinkwavu, and Butaro District Hospitals). We used the Safe Surgery Organizational Readiness Tool (SSORT) to measure perceived individual and team readiness to implement surgical quality improvement interventions across 14 domains. Results None of the facilities had a dedicated pediatric surgeon, and the most common barriers to pediatric surgery were lack of surgeon (68%), lack of physician anesthesiologists (19%), and inadequate infrastructure (17%). There were gaps in operating and recovery room infrastructure, and information management for pediatric outpatients and referrals. In SSORT interviews (n=47), the highest barriers to increasing pediatric surgery capacity were facility capacity (mean score=2.6 out of 5), psychological safety (median score=3.0 out of 5), and resistance to change (mean score=1.5 out of 5 with 5=no resistance). Conclusions This study highlights challenges in providing safe and high-quality surgical care to pediatric patients in three rural district hospitals in Rwanda. It underscores the need for targeted interventions to address facility and organizational barriers prior to implementing interventions to expand pediatric surgical capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Nuss
- Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | | | - Carol Mugabo
- Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | | | - Cynthia Uwera
- Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | | | - Callum Forbes
- Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- University of Global Health Equity, Butaro, Rwanda
| | | | | | - Bethany L. Hedt-Gauthier
- Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Adler AJ, Randall T, Schwartz LN, Drown L, Matthews S, Pace LE, Mugabo C, Kateera F, Bukhman G, Baganizi E, Ng'ang'a LM. What women want: A mixed-methods study of women's health priorities, preferences, and experiences in care in three Rwandan rural districts. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2023. [PMID: 36815725 DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore Rwandan women's experiences, priorities, and preferences in accessing health care for non-pregnancy-related conditions and inform development of healthcare services related to these conditions among women of reproductive age at district hospitals and health centers in Rwanda. METHODS We used a mixed-methods, exploratory sequential design. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with Rwandan women and coded thematically. A cross-sectional quantitative survey based on the qualitative data was administered to women attending health centers. RESULTS Seventeen interviews and 150 surveys were conducted. Women identified conditions including back pain, gynecologic cancers, and abnormal vaginal bleeding as concerns. They generally reported positive experiences while accessing health care and knowledge of accessing health care. Barriers to care were identified, including transportation costs and inability to miss work. Women expressed a desire for more control over their care and the importance of maintaining their dignity while accessing health care. CONCLUSION These findings provide useful insights to inform development of non-pregnancy-related healthcare services for women in Rwanda according to their priorities and preferences. The reported end-user health concerns, barriers to care, and diminished control over their care point to a need to evolve health systems around user-tailored needs and design interventions optimizing access whilst promoting dignified care.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Adler
- Center for Integration Science, Division of Global Health Equity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - T Randall
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - L N Schwartz
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - L Drown
- Center for Integration Science, Division of Global Health Equity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - S Matthews
- Center for Integration Science, Division of Global Health Equity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - L E Pace
- Center for Integration Science, Division of Global Health Equity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - C Mugabo
- Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - F Kateera
- Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - G Bukhman
- Center for Integration Science, Division of Global Health Equity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Program in Global Noncommunicable Disease and Social Change, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Partners in Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - E Baganizi
- Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - L M Ng'ang'a
- Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Kigali, Rwanda
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Barnhart DA, Kamali I, Nyirahabihirwe F, Mugabo C, Gakuru JDLP, Uwase M, Nizeyumuremyi E, Musafiri T, Gatete JDD, Makuza JD, Kateera F, Hedt-Gauthier B, Ndahimana JD. Knowledge among patients with Hepatitis C initiating on direct-acting antiviral treatment in rural Rwanda: A prospective cohort study. Glob Health Action 2021; 14:1953250. [PMID: 34347569 PMCID: PMC8344237 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2021.1953250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Curative direct-acting antiviral treatment (DAA) has made it plausible to implement hepatitis C elimination interventions. However, poor hepatitis C knowledge among patients could impede the effectiveness of screening and treatment programs. Objective We assessed knowledge on hepatitis C among rural Rwandans initiating DAA treatment for hepatitis C in a prospective cohort. Methods We administered 15 true-false statements before treatment initiation and during one follow-up visit occurring either 1 or 2 months after treatment initiation. We assessed the average number of correct responses per patient, the proportion of correct responses to individual statements, pre-treatment predictors of knowledge, and whether post-initiation knowledge was associated with time since treatment initiation, quality of care, or adherence. Results Among 333 patients who answered knowledge questions before treatment initiation, 325 (97.6%) were re-assessed at a post-initiation visit. Pre-initiation, 72.1% knew hepatitis C was curable, 61.9% knew that hepatitis C could cause liver damage or cancer, and 42.3% knew that people with hepatitis C could look and feel fine. The average number of correct responses was 8.1 out of 15 (95% CI: 7.8–8.5), but was significantly lower among those with low educational attainment or with low literacy. Post-initiation, correct responses increased by an average of 2.0 statements (95% CI: 1.6, 2.4, p-value <0.001). Many patients still mistakenly believed that hepatitis C could be transmitted through kissing (66.5%), eating utensils (44.1%), handshakes (34.8%), and hugs (34.8%). Post-initiation knowledge is inversely associated with self-reported quality of care and unassociated with self-reported adherence. Conclusion Although knowledge improved over time, key gaps persisted among patients. Accessible public education campaigns targeted to low-literacy populations emphasizing that hepatitis C can be asymptomatic, has severe consequences, and is curable could promote participation in mass screening campaigns and linkage to care. Visual tools could facilitate clinician-provided patient education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale A Barnhart
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Partners In Health-Rwanda/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Rwinkwavu, Rwanda
| | - Innocent Kamali
- Partners In Health-Rwanda/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Rwinkwavu, Rwanda
| | | | - Carol Mugabo
- Partners In Health-Rwanda/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Rwinkwavu, Rwanda
| | | | - Mariam Uwase
- Partners In Health-Rwanda/Inshuti Mu Buzima, Rwinkwavu, Rwanda
| | | | | | | | - Jean Damascene Makuza
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,STIs and OBBI Division, Rwanda Biomedical Center, HIV/AIDS, Kigali, Rwanda
| | | | - Bethany Hedt-Gauthier
- Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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