Oncology Healthcare Professionals’ Awareness and Uptake of the Employee Assistance Programme in Three Public Healthcare Facilities in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

Institutional psychosocial support services have gained traction, globally, more so within the context of healthcare facilities. This is mainly due to the recognition that institutional psychosocial support services are beneficial to both employees and employers, alike. However, while these institutional psychosocial support services are important, their uptake remains relatively low. With the focus being on the employee assistance programme (EAP), this study aimed to explore the awareness and uptake of institutional psychosocial support services among oncology healthcare professionals (OHPs) in public healthcare facilities in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Using the interpretative phenomenological approach, the qualitative study was conducted in three public healthcare facilities that offer oncology services in KZN. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted among 31 participants who were OHPs in the three public healthcare facilities. Thematic data analysis produced two main themes and six respective sub-themes. The main themes were awareness of institutional psychosocial support services and low uptake of institutional psychosocial support services, mainly owing to adequate personal support systems, privacy and confidentiality concerns, and stigma. The study findings point to the need for stronger EAPs that are needs-based, promoted regularly, and evaluated, in public healthcare facilities. To encourage service uptake and address privacy, confidentiality and stigma concerns, innovative and non-stigmatising ways of promoting these services are required, including hybrid approaches to the provision of EAP services. The study findings can provide a valuable contribution to the continued development and strengthening of institutional psychosocial support services in public healthcare facilities.