Abstract
Background: Lack of proper practice of home care nursing is considered the primary cause of the spread of chronic diseases in Nigeria. Human, physical and organization were highlighted as important determinants that influence the quality of healthcare services in home setting. In lieu of this, this present study investigated the determinants of home care nursing practice among nurses working in the selected health facilities in Ile-Ife, Osun state.
Material and Methods: In this study, a total of 84 nurses between the ages of 20-59 working in selected health facilities were used for the study. Total enumeration method was used while questionnaire was administered to respondents having either diploma or master certificate. Data presentations were carried out using descriptive statistics while hypothesis was tested with Pearson’s chi-square and multiple regression analysis using significance level of 0.05.
Results: Results revealed that the determinants of home care nursing practice were dearth of nurses (100%), inadequate funding (95.2%), lack of mobility for nurses (95.2%), lack of compensation in case of work hazard (94%), lack of security (90.5%), poor awareness among patients (91.7%), and task involved (86.9%).
Conclusion: In conclusion, the study revealed that home care nursing was not properly practiced in the studied areas of the state because of human, physical and organizational determinants. The predominant human determinants were high task involved, time consuming practice, and demand of the service. Lack of mobility for nurses, poor awareness among patients, lack of security for nurses and poor mobile network access were the top variables in physical determinants. While short of nurses, inadequate funding, lack of compensation in case of work hazard, lack of insurance scheme to subsidize cost of accessing healthcare in clients’ homes and unsupportive organizational goal were the major constraints of organizational determinants. The study also uncovered that nurses were ready to be involved in the practice of home care nursing provided the determinants are well addressed.
