Family caregiver involvement and role in hospital at home for adults: the patients’ and family caregivers’ perspective - a Norwegian qualitative study
Abstract Background Hospital at home (HaH) provides acute healthcare services in patients’ homes instead of traditional in-patient care. Research has reported positive outcomes for patients and reduced costs. Although HaH has developed into a global concept, we have little knowledge about the involv...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09531-3 |
| _version_ | 1797822952745467904 |
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| author | Lillian Karlsen Bente Prytz Mjølstad Bjarte Bye Løfaldli Anne-Sofie Helvik |
| author_facet | Lillian Karlsen Bente Prytz Mjølstad Bjarte Bye Løfaldli Anne-Sofie Helvik |
| author_sort | Lillian Karlsen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Hospital at home (HaH) provides acute healthcare services in patients’ homes instead of traditional in-patient care. Research has reported positive outcomes for patients and reduced costs. Although HaH has developed into a global concept, we have little knowledge about the involvement and role of family caregivers (FCs) of adults. The aim of this study was to explore FC involvement and role during HaH treatment as perceived by patients and FCs in a Norwegian healthcare context. Methods A qualitative study was carried out among seven patients and nine FCs in Mid-Norway. The data was obtained through fifteen semi-structured interviews; fourteen were performed individually and one as duad interview. The age of the participants varied between 31 and 73 years, and mean age of 57 years. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used, and the analysis was performed according to Kvale and Brinkmann’s description of interpretation. Results We identified three main categories and seven subcategories regarding FC involvement and role in HaH: (1) Preparing for something new and unfamiliar, including the subcategories `Lack of involvement in the decision process` and `Information overload affecting caregiver readiness`, (2) Adjusting to a new everyday life at home, including the subcategories `The critical first days at home`, `Coherent care and support in a novel situation`, and `Prior established family roles influencing the new everyday life at home`, (3) FCs` role gradually diminishes and looking back, including the subcategories `A smooth transition to life beyond hospital at home` and `Finding meaning and motivation in providing care`. Conclusions FCs played an important role in HaH, although their tasks, involvement and effort varied across different phases during HaH treatment. The study findings contribute to a greater understanding of the dynamic nature of the caregiver experiences during HaH treatment, which can guide healthcare professionals on how they can provide timely and appropriate support to FCs in HaH over time. Such knowledge is important to decrease the risk of caregiver distress during HaH treatment. Further work, such as longitudinal studies, should be done to examine the course of caregiving in HaH over time to correct or support the phases described in this study. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:16:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8962cce11cd6434893ce5d7d07a0b7fb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T10:16:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-8962cce11cd6434893ce5d7d07a0b7fb2023-05-21T11:12:04ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632023-05-0123111210.1186/s12913-023-09531-3Family caregiver involvement and role in hospital at home for adults: the patients’ and family caregivers’ perspective - a Norwegian qualitative studyLillian Karlsen0Bente Prytz Mjølstad1Bjarte Bye Løfaldli2Anne-Sofie Helvik3The Centre for Health InnovationGeneral Practice Research Unit, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyThe Centre for Health InnovationFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Background Hospital at home (HaH) provides acute healthcare services in patients’ homes instead of traditional in-patient care. Research has reported positive outcomes for patients and reduced costs. Although HaH has developed into a global concept, we have little knowledge about the involvement and role of family caregivers (FCs) of adults. The aim of this study was to explore FC involvement and role during HaH treatment as perceived by patients and FCs in a Norwegian healthcare context. Methods A qualitative study was carried out among seven patients and nine FCs in Mid-Norway. The data was obtained through fifteen semi-structured interviews; fourteen were performed individually and one as duad interview. The age of the participants varied between 31 and 73 years, and mean age of 57 years. A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was used, and the analysis was performed according to Kvale and Brinkmann’s description of interpretation. Results We identified three main categories and seven subcategories regarding FC involvement and role in HaH: (1) Preparing for something new and unfamiliar, including the subcategories `Lack of involvement in the decision process` and `Information overload affecting caregiver readiness`, (2) Adjusting to a new everyday life at home, including the subcategories `The critical first days at home`, `Coherent care and support in a novel situation`, and `Prior established family roles influencing the new everyday life at home`, (3) FCs` role gradually diminishes and looking back, including the subcategories `A smooth transition to life beyond hospital at home` and `Finding meaning and motivation in providing care`. Conclusions FCs played an important role in HaH, although their tasks, involvement and effort varied across different phases during HaH treatment. The study findings contribute to a greater understanding of the dynamic nature of the caregiver experiences during HaH treatment, which can guide healthcare professionals on how they can provide timely and appropriate support to FCs in HaH over time. Such knowledge is important to decrease the risk of caregiver distress during HaH treatment. Further work, such as longitudinal studies, should be done to examine the course of caregiving in HaH over time to correct or support the phases described in this study.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09531-3Home care servicesHospital-basedHospital at homeHAHFamily caregivingInvolvement and role |
| spellingShingle | Lillian Karlsen Bente Prytz Mjølstad Bjarte Bye Løfaldli Anne-Sofie Helvik Family caregiver involvement and role in hospital at home for adults: the patients’ and family caregivers’ perspective - a Norwegian qualitative study BMC Health Services Research Home care services Hospital-based Hospital at home HAH Family caregiving Involvement and role |
| title | Family caregiver involvement and role in hospital at home for adults: the patients’ and family caregivers’ perspective - a Norwegian qualitative study |
| title_full | Family caregiver involvement and role in hospital at home for adults: the patients’ and family caregivers’ perspective - a Norwegian qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Family caregiver involvement and role in hospital at home for adults: the patients’ and family caregivers’ perspective - a Norwegian qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Family caregiver involvement and role in hospital at home for adults: the patients’ and family caregivers’ perspective - a Norwegian qualitative study |
| title_short | Family caregiver involvement and role in hospital at home for adults: the patients’ and family caregivers’ perspective - a Norwegian qualitative study |
| title_sort | family caregiver involvement and role in hospital at home for adults the patients and family caregivers perspective a norwegian qualitative study |
| topic | Home care services Hospital-based Hospital at home HAH Family caregiving Involvement and role |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09531-3 |
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