Term of Award

Summer 2018

Degree Name

Doctor of Public Health in Community Health Behavior and Education (Dr.P.H.)

Document Type and Release Option

Dissertation (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health

Committee Chair

Bettye Apenteng

Committee Member 1

Evans Afriyie-Gyawu

Committee Member 2

Joanne Chopak-Foss

Committee Member 3

Samuel Opoku

Abstract

The prevalence of chronic disease has been on the rise in various developing countries. This study is an exploratory investigation of the perceptions of health professionals in Kumasi, Ghana on the role of the community in chronic disease management. Using the Chronic Care Model as a framework, the objective of the study was to examine the extent of community-healthcare system in chronic disease management and to explore the barriers to and facilitators of community involvement in chronic disease management. By exploring the availability of community resources that positively contribute to the management of these patients, the study fills an existing gap in the literature related to community involvement in chronic disease management.

The study uses a mixed methods approach, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data. Data were obtained from interviews with 50 healthcare professionals and a quantitative survey of 109 healthcare professionals. Research findings revealed that the family unit is the main form of support for patients with chronic diseases. Findings additionally revealed a lack of community support, resources, and community partnerships in the efforts towards effective health management for patients with chronic diseases in Ghana.

Research Data and Supplementary Material

Yes

Dissertation_OMORUAN_7_31.docx (553 kB)
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