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Table 1 Percent of performance standards (PS) fulfilled across all assessed facilities

From: Assessment of service quality of public antiretroviral treatment (ART) clinics in South Africa: a cross-sectional study

Service area

n

Percent PS fulfilled

Reception (admin clerk)

  

Opens a file for the patient

69

98.6

Checks if patient has a referral letter

70

95.7

Checks if patient brought lab result

70

91.4

Shows patient where to go next

69

85.5

Greets patient

70

74.3

Immediately shows patient to the nurse

68

69.1

Confirms booking

69

59.4

Front station (nurse)

  

Checks blood pressure

66

87.9

Measures weight

68

80.9

Checks pulse

67

79.1

Tells patient where to go next

67

76.1

Greets patient

68

66.2

Checks temperature

65

63.1

Measures height

66

39.4

Clinician’s Consultation (medical doctor)

  

Reviews lab results

54

87.0

Asks about previous TB history

59

86.4

Tells patient where to go next

57

82.8

Asks about alcohol, smoking and other drugs

57

80.7

Greets patient

59

79.7

Determines timeframe for follow-up visit

58

79.3

Asks about previous diseases

57

78.9

Asks about previous medication

58

75.9

Asks about loss of weight

58

72.4

Asks about concomitant medications (e.g. herbal medication)

58

72.4

Asks about the use of any prophylaxis

57

71.9

Asks about coughing

57

66.7

Verifies previous exposure to antiretroviral drugs

58

60.3

Asks about night sweat

59

57.6

Asks about difficulty in breathing

59

52.5

Checks psycho-social condition

54

51.9

Confirms/excludes pregnancy (women only)

43

46.5

Performs physical examination

56

41.1

Requests to bring all concurrent medications at the next visit

56

37.5

Refers for cervix cancer screening smear (women only)

34

35.3

HIV counselling (lay counsellor)

  

Greets patient

49

87.8

Reinforces the importance of using ART always at the same time

49

83.7

Provides the information that ART may cause adverse effects

48

83.3

Tells patient where to go next

46

78.3

Provides information that ART is a combination of medicine

49

77.6

Provides the information that ART doesn't cure AIDS but prolong life

49

77.6

Completes form

47

74.5

Discusses the importance of avoidance of alcohol and other drugs

49

73.5

Discusses prevention of HIV super-infection

46

69.6

Explains the importance of adherence with regard to resistance

49

69.4

Assesses patient’s knowledge of ART

48

68.8

Discusses the importance of proper nutrition

48

66.7

Discusses ART and how antiretroviral drugs work

49

65.3

Advises patient not to stop medicines without talking to clinician

49

65.3

Advises not to start any new medicines without consultation

49

65.3

Discusses prevention of HIV infection of others

48

64.6

Recommends the use of reminder tools for use of ART

48

62.5

Discusses the importance of physical activities

49

61.2

Shows types of ART as samples

49

53.1

Discusses PMTCT (women only)

34

50.0

Advises patient not to share medication with others

49

46.9

Social worker’s assessment (social worker)

 

Confirms contact information

9

100.0

Greets patient

9

88.9

Tells patient where to go next

9

88.9

Assesses alcohol and other drug use

10

80.0

Assesses housing

10

80.0

Assesses access to transportation

10

70.0

Verifies if patient qualify for grant application

10

70.0

Assesses need for food supplements

10

70.0

Assesses social violence

9

44.4

Nutrition counselling (dietician)

 

Greets patient

10

90.0

Performs nutritional evaluation

10

90.0

Tells patient where to go next

10

90.0

Provides dietary education

10

90.0

Completes nutritional risk score

10

80.0

Provides basic knowledge of food security

10

70.0

Pharmacy (pharmacist/pharmacy assistant)

 

Reviews the prescribed drugs

37

91.9

Counsels patient on treatment

37

83.8

  1. n: number of assessments by participant observers; PS: performance standards.