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Attitudes toward neurosurgery in a low-income country: a qualitative study.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bramall, A; Djimbaye, H; Tolessa, C; Biluts, H; Abebe, M; Bernstein, M
Published in: World Neurosurg
November 2014

OBJECTIVE: To adapt a study exploring the needs of neurosurgery patients in a tertiary care hospital in Canada to examine, for the first time, the perspectives of neurosurgery patients in a low-income country with limited health care resources. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 25 neurosurgery patients at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Teaching Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Interviews were conducted in Amharic or Oromo, translated into English, and subjected to modified thematic analysis. RESULTS: The following 5 themes emerged: 1) With limited resources, many patients did not seek information outside of that obtained during the clinical encounter. 2) Patients valued direct verbal communication and deferred to the surgeon's authority. 3) Religion played an instrumental role in patient attitudes toward surgery. 4) Most patients did not feel anxious about surgery. 5) A few patients did not inform family members about their medical condition. CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative research methodology in neurosurgery can be successfully adapted from resource-abundant to resource-poor contexts. In low-income countries, patients are faced with limited options for self-education and self-empowerment, and fatalistic and paternalistic attitudes may be prevalent. Local cultural values and expectations can influence practice differently than they do in resource-rich countries.

Duke Scholars

Published In

World Neurosurg

DOI

EISSN

1878-8769

Publication Date

November 2014

Volume

82

Issue

5

Start / End Page

560 / 566

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Qualitative Research
  • Poverty
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Outpatients
  • Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Interviews as Topic
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Bramall, A., Djimbaye, H., Tolessa, C., Biluts, H., Abebe, M., & Bernstein, M. (2014). Attitudes toward neurosurgery in a low-income country: a qualitative study. World Neurosurg, 82(5), 560–566. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2014.05.015
Bramall, Alexa, Hananiah Djimbaye, China Tolessa, Hagos Biluts, Mersha Abebe, and Mark Bernstein. “Attitudes toward neurosurgery in a low-income country: a qualitative study.World Neurosurg 82, no. 5 (November 2014): 560–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2014.05.015.
Bramall A, Djimbaye H, Tolessa C, Biluts H, Abebe M, Bernstein M. Attitudes toward neurosurgery in a low-income country: a qualitative study. World Neurosurg. 2014 Nov;82(5):560–6.
Bramall, Alexa, et al. “Attitudes toward neurosurgery in a low-income country: a qualitative study.World Neurosurg, vol. 82, no. 5, Nov. 2014, pp. 560–66. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.wneu.2014.05.015.
Bramall A, Djimbaye H, Tolessa C, Biluts H, Abebe M, Bernstein M. Attitudes toward neurosurgery in a low-income country: a qualitative study. World Neurosurg. 2014 Nov;82(5):560–566.
Journal cover image

Published In

World Neurosurg

DOI

EISSN

1878-8769

Publication Date

November 2014

Volume

82

Issue

5

Start / End Page

560 / 566

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Qualitative Research
  • Poverty
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Outpatients
  • Neurosurgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Interviews as Topic