{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]],"date-time":"2026-09-08T12:15:58Z","timestamp":1788869758688,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"BMJ","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]],"date-time":"2026-09-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788825600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":7,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["bmj.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["BMJ Open"],"accepted":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,30]]},"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Sickle cell disease places a significant burden on health systems in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, where access to high-quality, patient-centred care remains limited. This study evaluated patient-perceived quality of sickle cell disease care at a tertiary-level facility in Ghana and explored process factors influencing perceived quality of care.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Design<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Setting<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A tertiary-level healthcare facility in Accra, Ghana.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Participants<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A total of 424 individuals with sickle cell disease were recruited using convenience sampling. Data were collected between 4 September and 16 October 2023 using pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaires. First-time clinic attendees and those requiring urgent medical intervention were excluded.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Primary and secondary outcome measures<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Primary outcome was patient-perceived quality of care. Secondary outcome measures included socio-demographic and process-related factors influencing patient-perceived care quality.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Participants\u2019 ages ranged from 15 to 66 years, with a median (IQR) age of 32 (27\u201342) years. Most were female (67.4%), had the SS genotype (51.9%) and 68.6% were on hydroxyurea. Overall, 81.8% of respondents reported receiving good-quality care. Predictors of higher perceived care quality included age (adjusted OR (AOR)=8.9, (95% CI 3.3 to 24.3), p=0.001), hydroxyurea use (AOR=2.3, (95% CI 1.2 to 4.2), p=0.008), good health worker-patient communication (AOR=3.2, (95% CI 1.7 to 6.0), p=0.001), positive provider attitudes (AOR=3.1, (95% CI 1.7 to 5.7), p=0.001), receipt of health education (AOR=2.1, (95% CI 1.1 to 3.9), p=0.030) and shorter waiting times for emergency care (AOR=0.2, (95% CI 0.1 to 0.6), p=0.001).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study provides context-specific evidence on process-level determinants of quality of sickle cell disease care in Ghana. Interventions to improve provider communication, enhance provider attitudes, strengthen patient education and reduce waiting times may improve patient experience and contribute to progress towards Universal Health Coverage in resource-limited settings.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2026-120131","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]],"date-time":"2026-09-08T12:00:23Z","timestamp":1788868823000},"page":"e120131","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1136\/crossmarkpolicy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Process-related determinants of quality of care for individuals with sickle cell disease in a tertiary facility in Ghana"],"prefix":"10.1136","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7239-9087","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kwabena Oppong","family":"Amoako","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana"},{"name":"Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Eugenia Vicky","family":"Asare","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ghana Institute of Clinical Genetics, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana"},{"name":"Department of Haematology, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Angela Afia","family":"Adjei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Accra, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0009-1527-5692","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Prince","family":"Asemdi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Denise Ludmila","family":"Frantik","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dennis Odai","family":"Laryea","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Disease Surveillance Department, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4642-789X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yaw","family":"Ampem Amoako","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana"},{"name":"Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Augustine","family":"Adomah-Afari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"239","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026090805001695000_16.9.e120131.1","unstructured":"WHO . 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