Managing ‘sick days’ in patients with chronic conditions: An exploration of patient and healthcare provider experiences
Abstract Introduction People with chronic medical conditions often take medications that improve long‐term outcomes but which can be harmful during acute illness. Guidelines recommend that healthcare providers offer instructions to temporarily stop these medications when patients are sick (i.e., sic...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Health Expectations |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13789 |
| _version_ | 1797626804008124416 |
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| author | Kirnvir K. Dhaliwal Kaitlyn E. Watson Nicole C. Lamont Kelsea M. Drall Maoliosa Donald Matthew T. James Sandra Robertshaw Nancy Verdin Eleanor Benterud Kerry McBrien Sarah Gil Ross T. Tsuyuki Neesh Pannu David J. T. Campbell |
| author_facet | Kirnvir K. Dhaliwal Kaitlyn E. Watson Nicole C. Lamont Kelsea M. Drall Maoliosa Donald Matthew T. James Sandra Robertshaw Nancy Verdin Eleanor Benterud Kerry McBrien Sarah Gil Ross T. Tsuyuki Neesh Pannu David J. T. Campbell |
| author_sort | Kirnvir K. Dhaliwal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction People with chronic medical conditions often take medications that improve long‐term outcomes but which can be harmful during acute illness. Guidelines recommend that healthcare providers offer instructions to temporarily stop these medications when patients are sick (i.e., sick days). We describe the experiences of patients managing sick days and of healthcare providers providing sick day guidance to their patients. Methods We undertook a qualitative descriptive study. We purposively sampled patients and healthcare providers from across Canada. Adult patients were eligible if they took at least two medications for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and/or kidney disease. Healthcare providers were eligible if they were practising in a community setting with at least 1 year of experience. Data were collected using virtual focus groups and individual phone interviews conducted in English. Team members analyzed transcripts using conventional content analysis. Results We interviewed 48 participants (20 patients and 28 healthcare providers). Most patients were between 50 and 64 years of age and identified their health status as ‘good’. Most healthcare providers were between 45 and 54 years of age and the majority practised as pharmacists in urban areas. We identified three overarching themes that summarize the experiences of patients and healthcare providers, largely suggesting a broad spectrum in approaches to managing sick days: Individualized Communication, Tailored Sick Day Practices, and Variation in Knowledge of Sick Day Practices and Relevant Resources. Conclusion It is important to understand the perspectives of both patients and healthcare providers with respect to the management of sick days. This understanding can be used to improve care and outcomes for people living with chronic conditions during sick days. Patient or Public Contribution Two patient partners were involved from proposal development to the dissemination of our findings, including manuscript development. Both patient partners took part in team meetings and contributed to team decision‐making. Patient partners also participated in data analysis by reviewing codes and theme development. Furthermore, patients living with various chronic conditions and healthcare providers participated in focus groups and individual interviews. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:15:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-10f95588ea764d05800ac6361aa8713d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1369-6513 1369-7625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:15:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Expectations |
| spelling | doaj.art-10f95588ea764d05800ac6361aa8713d2023-11-16T08:25:36ZengWileyHealth Expectations1369-65131369-76252023-08-012641746175610.1111/hex.13789Managing ‘sick days’ in patients with chronic conditions: An exploration of patient and healthcare provider experiencesKirnvir K. Dhaliwal0Kaitlyn E. Watson1Nicole C. Lamont2Kelsea M. Drall3Maoliosa Donald4Matthew T. James5Sandra Robertshaw6Nancy Verdin7Eleanor Benterud8Kerry McBrien9Sarah Gil10Ross T. Tsuyuki11Neesh Pannu12David J. T. Campbell13Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaDepartment of Medicine, EPICORE Centre University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta CanadaDepartment of Medicine, Division of Nephrology University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta CanadaDepartment of Medicine, Division of Nephrology University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta CanadaDepartment of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaDepartment of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaDepartment of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaDepartment of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaDepartment of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaDepartment of Family Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaDepartment of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaDepartment of Medicine, EPICORE Centre University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta CanadaDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta CanadaDepartment of Medicine, Community Health Sciences, and Cardiac Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine University of Calgary Calgary Alberta CanadaAbstract Introduction People with chronic medical conditions often take medications that improve long‐term outcomes but which can be harmful during acute illness. Guidelines recommend that healthcare providers offer instructions to temporarily stop these medications when patients are sick (i.e., sick days). We describe the experiences of patients managing sick days and of healthcare providers providing sick day guidance to their patients. Methods We undertook a qualitative descriptive study. We purposively sampled patients and healthcare providers from across Canada. Adult patients were eligible if they took at least two medications for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and/or kidney disease. Healthcare providers were eligible if they were practising in a community setting with at least 1 year of experience. Data were collected using virtual focus groups and individual phone interviews conducted in English. Team members analyzed transcripts using conventional content analysis. Results We interviewed 48 participants (20 patients and 28 healthcare providers). Most patients were between 50 and 64 years of age and identified their health status as ‘good’. Most healthcare providers were between 45 and 54 years of age and the majority practised as pharmacists in urban areas. We identified three overarching themes that summarize the experiences of patients and healthcare providers, largely suggesting a broad spectrum in approaches to managing sick days: Individualized Communication, Tailored Sick Day Practices, and Variation in Knowledge of Sick Day Practices and Relevant Resources. Conclusion It is important to understand the perspectives of both patients and healthcare providers with respect to the management of sick days. This understanding can be used to improve care and outcomes for people living with chronic conditions during sick days. Patient or Public Contribution Two patient partners were involved from proposal development to the dissemination of our findings, including manuscript development. Both patient partners took part in team meetings and contributed to team decision‐making. Patient partners also participated in data analysis by reviewing codes and theme development. Furthermore, patients living with various chronic conditions and healthcare providers participated in focus groups and individual interviews.https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13789chronic condition(s)qualitative researchsick day guidancesick day management |
| spellingShingle | Kirnvir K. Dhaliwal Kaitlyn E. Watson Nicole C. Lamont Kelsea M. Drall Maoliosa Donald Matthew T. James Sandra Robertshaw Nancy Verdin Eleanor Benterud Kerry McBrien Sarah Gil Ross T. Tsuyuki Neesh Pannu David J. T. Campbell Managing ‘sick days’ in patients with chronic conditions: An exploration of patient and healthcare provider experiences Health Expectations chronic condition(s) qualitative research sick day guidance sick day management |
| title | Managing ‘sick days’ in patients with chronic conditions: An exploration of patient and healthcare provider experiences |
| title_full | Managing ‘sick days’ in patients with chronic conditions: An exploration of patient and healthcare provider experiences |
| title_fullStr | Managing ‘sick days’ in patients with chronic conditions: An exploration of patient and healthcare provider experiences |
| title_full_unstemmed | Managing ‘sick days’ in patients with chronic conditions: An exploration of patient and healthcare provider experiences |
| title_short | Managing ‘sick days’ in patients with chronic conditions: An exploration of patient and healthcare provider experiences |
| title_sort | managing sick days in patients with chronic conditions an exploration of patient and healthcare provider experiences |
| topic | chronic condition(s) qualitative research sick day guidance sick day management |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13789 |
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