DOI: 10.5061/dryad.39np4
title: Data from: How do patients and health workers interact around malaria rapid diagnostic testing, and how are the tests experienced by patients in practice? A qualitative study in western Uganda

description: Background: Successful scale-up in the use of malaria rapid diagnostic
 tests (RDTs) requires that patients accept testing and treatment based on
 RDT results and that healthcare providers treat according to test results.
 Patient-provider communication is a key component of quality care, and
 leads to improved patient satisfaction, higher adherence to treatment and
 better health outcomes. Voiced or perceived patient expectations are also
 known to influence treatment decision-making among healthcare providers.
 While there has been a growth in literature on provider practices around
 rapid testing for malaria, there has been little analysis of
 inter-personal communication around the testing process. We investigated
 how healthcare providers and patients interact and engage throughout the
 diagnostic and treatment process, and how the testing service is
 experienced by patients in practice. Methods: This research was conducted
 alongside a larger study which explored determinants of provider treatment
 decision-making following negative RDT results in a rural district
 (Kibaale) in mid-western Uganda, ten months after RDT introduction.
 Fifty-five patients presenting with fever were observed during routine
 outpatient visits at 12 low-level public health facilities. Observation
 captured communication practices relating to test purpose, results,
 diagnosis and treatment. All observed patients or caregivers were
 immediately followed up with in-depth interview. Analysis followed the
 ‘framework’ approach. A summative approach was also used to analyse
 observation data. Results: Providers failed to consistently communicate
 the reasons for carrying out the test, and particularly to RDT-negative
 patients, a diagnostic outcome or the meaning of test results, also
 leading to confusion over what the test can detect. Patients appeared to
 value testing, but were frustrated by the lack of communication on
 outcomes. RDT-negative patients were dissatisfied by the absence of
 information on an alternative diagnosis and expressed uncertainty around
 adequacy of proposed treatment. Conclusions: Poor provider communication
 practices around the testing process, as well as limited inter-personal
 exchange between providers and patients, impacted on patients’ perceptions
 of their proposed treatment. Patients have a right to health information
 and may be more likely to accept and adhere to treatment when they
 understand their diagnosis and treatment rationale in relation to their
 perceived health needs and visit expectations.
description: Pioneer RDT comms data
 fileMain data file for
 Pioneer study and associated manuscript focused on how patients and health
 workers interact around malaria rapid diagnostic testing and how the tests
 are experienced by patients in practice (located western Uganda). The file
 contains full indexed dataset from patient interviews as well as full
 observation data.Copy of
 PtProvComm_MinimalDatset_RecleanedJul2016B.xlsx