Background

Globally, patient-centered care has become the focus of the healthcare system. Therefore, it is imperative to note that patient-centered care seeks to empower partnering approaches to primary health care and has recently gained prominence in nursing practice and applied nursing research. However, nurses are faced with numerous challenges in achieving the desired results and objectives related to Patient-centered care in the Primary Health Care system. Thus, the study explores the negative factors influencing the implementation of Patient-centered care in rural Primary Health Care facilities in Nigeria.

Method

A qualitative participatory action research design was used. Data collection was conducted with the nurses from Primary Health Care facilities through individual interviews and focus group discussions. Data saturation was achieved with 35 participants from 30 Primary Health Care facilities in Osun State, Southwest Nigeria, using a purposive sampling technique. All interviews were audio-recorded, which were later transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a thematic content analysis approach. NVivo 12 software was used for data management.

Results

The results from this study was categorized into two: organizational factors and individual factors. Five themes that emerged from the study include: inadequate management support, insufficient operational skills and knowledge/equipped learning, increased workload and time constraints, health personnel readiness, dearth enthusiasm for change and accountability of the staff.

Conclusion

The results of this study show that nurses encountered diverse challenges in the implementation of patient-centered care. To improve healthcare delivery quality in the Primary Health Care facilities, there is a need to reinforce adequate management support, education, training, and the nurses’ internal motivation to achieve a transformative healthcare outcome.