Challenges to the improvement of Colombian medical brigades aimed at the diagnosis of congenital heart disease: A qualitative approach

• Published in: Global public health Vol. 14; no. 8; pp. 1193 - 1203
• Main Authors: Rubio, Maria Alejandra, Dennis, Rodolfo, Dominguez, Maria Teresa, Suarez, Roberto, Olarte-Sierra, Maria Fernanda, Palacio, Daniela, Ronderos, Miguel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 03.08.2019; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Cardiology; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular diseases; Caregivers; Caregivers - standards; Clinical outcomes; Colombia; Communication; Conditioning; Congenital diseases; Congenital heart disease; Diagnosis; Disease; Families & family life; Female; Health care; Health disparities; Health services; healthcare inequity; Heart Defects, Congenital - diagnosis; Heart diseases; Humans; Inequality; Male; Medical brigades; Medical diagnosis; Medical electronics; Medical personnel; Observation; Patient Care Team - standards; Pediatrics; Populations; Qualitative Research; Quality Improvement; Sampling; Social background; Social Class; Social factors; Sociocultural factors; socioeconomic factors; Socioeconomic status; Telemedicine; Colombia; congenital heart disease; socioeconomic factors; Medical brigades; healthcare inequity; qualitative research
• DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2018.1549266
• ISSN: 1744-1692

Qualitative research of brigades and the family experience of congenital heart disease is of current interest and has been previously neglected. This study aimed to explore the social factors conditioning outcomes of paediatric cardiology care in the setting of Colombian medical brigades and to identify feasible strategies to improve the experience of the beneficiary populations. Participants were selected using purposeful sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of logistic and health care teams, caregivers and custodians of beneficiary children of the Programme. The data collected provided an understanding of the health culture, social background, household and intrafamily dynamics. The outcomes of the Programme are influenced by sociocultural dynamics such as communication gaps and the socioeconomic status of the beneficiary populations. Findings may be specific to brigades, but also cross-relevant to any family experience of a new diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) communicating with healthcare professionals. It is important to foresee the role and further development of the Programme. Recommendations are provided suggesting innovative work by means of telemedicine and other sociocultural measures to reduce healthcare inequity and strengthen comprehensive healthcare programmes.