Health Professionals Perceptions Regarding Mental Health Care Services Quality in a Selected Psychiatric Hospital in Lesotho

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of health professionals regarding mental healthcare services quality at a selected psychiatric mental health setting in Lesotho. An exploratory descriptive qualitative design was used to collect data using semi-structured interviews from a sample of 14 mental healthcare workers who were purposively sampled. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse the data and four themes, ten categories and 33 subcategories were developed. The findings indicated that psychiatric mental health care professionals understood the concept of quality mental healthcare and they were motivated to do their work. However, there are some challenges incurred by these professionals. The challenges were found to be institutional, environmental, human resource related and work relationship-related in nature. The participants revealed that they lacked support from the Ministry of Health, resources and equipment, standard operating procedures. The challenge of human resources is reflected by lack of a psychiatrist, no continuous professional development and long working hours. Participants expressed work relationship challenges includIing non-supportive correctional services officers in the Forensic unit and lack of support from patient relatives and the community. We conclude that there is a dire need to capacitate the professionals at the hospital and to scale up the quality of services. There is need to provide continued education support through refresher courses to the staff at this facility.