Table 1
Participants’ characteristics
|
Participant |
Age (years) |
Sex |
Ethnicity |
|---|---|---|---|
|
P1 |
61 |
Female |
Malay |
|
P2 |
65 |
Female |
Malay |
|
P3 |
71 |
Male |
Chinese |
|
P4 |
62 |
Male |
Malay |
|
P5 |
69 |
Male |
Malay |
|
P6 |
72 |
Male |
Chinese |
|
P7 |
22 |
Male |
Indian |
|
P8 |
57 |
Female |
Malay |
|
P9 |
60 |
Female |
Malay |
Table 2
Themes
|
Themes |
Transcript |
|---|---|
|
Perceived meaning of the visit | |
|
A contribution to society |
My hope is that they’ll know more and learn more. Firstly is that when you learn more and know more, you are smarter. And you can help other people.– P6 Because, we desire to help. There may be people with similar religions, but each individual’s thinking is different. Not all will say no monetary returns or if they think, ‘I am a patient, and they should consider that if they want information from me, they should give me something. After all, this students are going to graduate and be somebody and earn something more than me, right?’ – P9 |
|
A social visit |
We enjoy it … Even before they come, we are already thinking of how to entertain them. What food should we serve … – P8 In our scriptures it is also mentioned … when visitors come, they bring providence to us. We never know … when they leave, they take away our misfortune … – P1 |
|
A teaching session |
I mean, let them know about my sicknesses and let them study about it. Or if they still don’t understand, they can ask their lecturers … Because I have so many sicknesses, then they will learn more by just interviewing one patient. – P3 |
|
Perceived benefits and risks | |
|
Learn more about their health |
It’s best to accept their visit, meaning we get advice from them, become their friends. If they don’t accept their visit, then they don’t get anything. To see a doctor, it’s not easy. – P4 |
|
Emotional benefits |
My father, mother, brother sisters all go to work .. I’m only with two sisters ..that’s why I feel bored .. if they come, I feel better.. someone wants to meet me. – P7 They come to learn, then I get to express my feelings. – P1 |
|
Privacy concerns |
What people say are sensitive questions … For me, I don’t consider certain things as too sensitive. Because to me, it’s better that they know. For example, if they go to a Muslim patient’s home and ask about alcohol consumption, some people may view that as a sensitive issue … For some it’s sensitive, for myself, there’s no need to be sensitive about it. – P9 |
|
Safety concerns |
Well, first of all, you introduced them to come. Then what should I be afraid of? That means if they belong … that if they are your workers or people that you have trained, and they want more experience, there’s nothing to be afraid of. You’re the one who introduced them so why should I be afraid? – P6 |
|
Past experiences with healthcare providers and students | |
|
Gratitude |
But we were really grateful because I previously had used up a lot of money before she got treated at U Hospital. – P8 |
|
Connections with healthcare providers or students |
Maybe because God’s giving, my nephew is a doctor. After that, my cousin was a doctor too. – P1 |
|
Availability for visits | |
|
Timing |
I can honestly say if they inform me earlier a day or two, I can tell them I would rest on this day and they can come. But the problem comes when my boss accepts a work to renovate a house and he has already decided when to move into the house to work and has given me a job … That means if there’s work to meet the deadline, then I’m not free. If there isn’t any pressure to meet the deadline, then anytime is okay. – P6 |
|
Home setting |
There’s nothing wrong, come to my home, but if I have to go there [hospital], I don’t want to … It’s difficult for me to go there, right? Have to take a taxi, need all that.. – P2 We are seated, relaxed, so they appeared less stressed out (laughs) … At home it’s more relaxed and there’s no rush. – P8 |