OPINION LEADERSHIP IN GHANAIAN HEALTH

*Alexander D. McKee, Dr. Carole South-Winter, Dr. Wenqian Dai and Dr. Jeanette Porter

ABSTRACT

The African country of Ghana currently struggles with the challenge of combating widespread diseases, increasing healthcare access, and improving healthcare quality through the use of evidence-based medicine. This study aimed at identifying opinion leaders in three demographically different areas in order to use to assist in the issues of access and quality. The first survey conducted required respondents to rank seven categories of healthcare providers by how often they spoke to the provider about their health, from most to least often. 157 respondents were surveyed from members of the community including 51 from urban cities, 65 from rural villages, and 41 from Kpanla, an isolated island. A second survey on self-designation was administered to 61 health care providers to measure their healthcare opinion leadership. There was a correlation between the two surveys. Doctors were the most utilized healthcare provider among community members however in certain communities the access to medical doctors was limited at best. All healthcare provider respondents demonstrated strong opinion leadership in healthcare.

Keywords: Opinion Leadership, Ghana, Healthcare Access, Healthcare Outcomes.