Patients' Perceptions of the Role of Nurse Practitioners in the Polyclinic of Tamale Teaching Hospital in Ghana

Abstract

Background: The global annual growth of the nurse practitioner (NP) workforce is estimated to be three to nine times greater than that of physicians. Also, there are inconsistencies in survey reports on patient encounters during visits to the nurse practitioner.  To bridge this gap and improve role expectations and performance, establishing a survey report on Patients' perceptions of the role of nurse practitioners is of interest to the health workforce. Aims: To assess patients' perceptions of the role of nurse practitioners in the Polyclinic of Tamale Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Methods: From July to September 2021, a face-to-face survey of 228 patients who visited a nurse practitioner at the Tamale Teaching Hospital was conducted. The patient's perceptions of the role of nurse practitioners were investigated using a validated self-report questionnaire. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and the STROBE checklist as a reporting standard. Results: The results showed that the majority of respondents perceived nurse practitioners to have a role in supervising other nurses (89.9%), performing certain diagnostic tests (87.7%), developing a plan to take care of the patient and put that plan into action (93.8%). The majority of respondents 219 (96.1%) who have been cared for by nurse practitioners were satisfied with the care given by the nurse practitioner. However, (74.6%) of respondents were unsure whether it is the role of nurse practitioners in assessing all information gathered to determine the patient's health. The age of respondents and religious affiliation was significant (p = 0.000). However, the sex of respondents had no statistically significant (p = 0.127), connection with their satisfaction with care provided by a nurse practitioner. Conclusions: The majority of the participants seeking health care were satisfied with nurse practitioners’ services. Thus, it is advised that nurse practitioners should continue to exhibit actions that are suitable for their role to the general population. The most fundamental method is for them to demonstrate this via their behaviours and practice.