Exploring Students’ Experiences On Campus Health Services

Abstract

Transitioning from high school to a tertiary environment presents challenges like emotional difficulties, stress, financial strain, and social isolation, which can negatively affect health. Exploring the health experiences of young adults is vital for developing policies that address their needs and aim to improve their health. Promoting health and maintaining healthy lifestyles in this vulnerable population ultimately relies on access to healthcare services and quality healthcare. Research at South African tertiary institutions highlights the value of on-campus healthcare services. However, limited studies focus on student experiences, as most are outdated or quantitative in nature. This study aimed to explore student experiences with on-campus healthcare using a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Microsoft Teams and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The following themes were identified: Healthcare staff at its best; Campus care that meets student needs; Communication gap in campus healthcare; All-in-One healthcare and improved health awareness across campus. The results revealed some of the challenges students face with accessing on-campus healthcare services and included recommendations for improvement.

Key words: students’ experience, student health, on-campus healthcare services, South Africa, universities.