Dimensions of patient-centred care from the perspective of patients and healthcare workers in hospital settings in sub-Saharan Africa: A qualitative evidence synthesis

The United States Institute of Medicine defines patient centred care (PCC), a core element of healthcare quality, as care that is holistic and responsive to individual needs. PCC is associated with better patient satisfaction and improved clinical outcomes. Current conceptualizations of PCC are mainly from Europe and North America. This systematic review summarises the perceived dimensions of PCC among patients and healthcare workers within hospitals in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Without date restrictions, searches were done on databases of the Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, Global Health, and grey literature, from their inception up to 11th August 2022. Only qualitative studies exploring dimensions or perceptions of PCC among patients, doctors and/or nurses in hospitals in (SSA) were included. Review articles and editorials were excluded. Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts, and conducted full-text reviews with conflicts resolved by a third reviewer. The CASP (critical appraisal skills program) checklist was utilised to assess the quality of included studies. The framework synthesis method was employed for data synthesis. 5507 articles were retrieved. Thirty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria, of which 17 were in the specialty of obstetrics, while the rest were spread across different fields. The perceived dimensions reported in the studies included privacy and confidentiality, communication, shared decision making, dignity and respect, continuity of care, access to care, adequate infrastructure and empowerment. Separate analysis of patients' and providers' perspective revealed a difference in the practical understanding of shared-decision making. These dimensions were summarised into a framework consisting of patient-as-person, access to care, and integrated care. The conceptualization of PCC within SSA was largely similar to findings from other parts of the world, although with a stronger emphasis on access to care. In SSA, both relational and structural aspects of care were significant elements of PCC. Healthcare providers mostly perceived structural aspects such as infrastructure as key dimensions of PCC. PROSPERO Registration number CRD42021238411.