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Hospital vs community care: a Romanian perspective
E A Glasper1, L Robertson, S Watkin
1University of Southampton's School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Insights
An independent audit revealed that community-based care for children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Romania surpasses hospital care. This finding highlights the effectiveness of community support for pediatric HIV patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Two Romanian charities providing financial support for children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) initiated an audit in 1997.
- The audit focused on care for children living with HIV in both hospital and community settings within Romania.
Purpose of the Study:
- To independently assess the quality of care for children with HIV in Romania.
- To collaborate with Romanian healthcare professionals in developing a user-friendly audit tool.
- To audit care provision and report findings for hospital and community settings.
Main Methods:
- An independent team of healthcare professionals conducted the audit.
- A newly developed, simple audit tool was utilized across various child care settings.
- Care provision in hospital and community home settings was systematically evaluated.
Main Results:
- The audit demonstrated that community-based care for children with HIV in Romania is superior to hospital care.
- Children with HIV in community settings received better care compared to those in a tertiary hospital.
Conclusions:
- Community care models for children with HIV in Romania are highly effective.
- Findings suggest a need to further support and potentially expand community-based care initiatives for pediatric HIV patients.
Abstract:
In the Summer of 1997, two Romanian charities which provide financial support to care for children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) living in Romania invited a team of healthcare professionals to conduct an independent audit of care for children nursed in hospital and community settings. The primary objective of the mission was to: witness hospital and community care of HIV positive children; work with Romanian healthcare professionals in the development of a simple user friendly audit tool for use in a variety of child care settings; and utilize the tool to audit and produce a written report related to care provision in the hospital and community home setting. The results of the audit exercise demonstrate that the provision of care for HIV positive children in the community homes exceeds that of similar children cared for in a tertiary hospital setting.