Difficulties and countermeasures in implementing age-friendly policies in primary health centers in Taiwan
Abstract Background Taiwan is predicted to become a super-aged society by 2025, and primary health centers (PHCs) are set to play a crucial role in the care of older adults. The Taiwanese government has developed an age-friendly verification framework for PHC. The aims of this study were to explore...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08770-0 |
| _version_ | 1811319314196725760 |
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| author | Chen-I Shih Tuey-Wen Hung Wei Chen Hui-Fei Yang Shu-Li Chia Yung-Hung Chang Sheng-Yu Fan |
| author_facet | Chen-I Shih Tuey-Wen Hung Wei Chen Hui-Fei Yang Shu-Li Chia Yung-Hung Chang Sheng-Yu Fan |
| author_sort | Chen-I Shih |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Taiwan is predicted to become a super-aged society by 2025, and primary health centers (PHCs) are set to play a crucial role in the care of older adults. The Taiwanese government has developed an age-friendly verification framework for PHC. The aims of this study were to explore the difficulties faced by PHC staff in the implementation of age-friendly policies and their solution strategies. Methods This study adopted a qualitative research method. The first stage involved conducting five focus groups with the responsible staff of PHCs (n = 41) that have been certified “age-friendly.” The focus groups covered the effectiveness, difficulties, and resources of PHCs in regards to the introduction of age-friendly policies. In the second stage, in-depth interviews were conducted with executives of PHCs (n = 5), both certified and not certified as age-friendly, to further compare the difficulties faced by these two types of PHCs, thereby gaining perspectives for solution strategies. The principles of grounded theory were used for data analysis. Results Four major PHC strategies are employed in the promotion of age-friendliness. First, organizational management, through which managers apply management methods and analyze the present PHC-related health concerns; second, resource utilization, which refers to the tallying, linking, and integrating of resources; third, business operation process, in which work efficiency is improved through the combination of business operations and staff training; finally, hardware improvement, which is achieved through comprehensive cataloging of facility environments. Conclusion The implementation of age-friendliness in PHCs requires the efforts of both the service units and government. With resources provided by the government, PHCs can integrate management methods, businesses operations, and essential resources. Moreover, PHC executives can lead their teams in promoting age-friendly policies, and closely monitor their effectiveness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:40:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-df2341de636240eda4a395ee75a2513d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:40:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-df2341de636240eda4a395ee75a2513d2022-12-22T02:46:32ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632022-11-012211810.1186/s12913-022-08770-0Difficulties and countermeasures in implementing age-friendly policies in primary health centers in TaiwanChen-I Shih0Tuey-Wen Hung1Wei Chen2Hui-Fei Yang3Shu-Li Chia4Yung-Hung Chang5Sheng-Yu Fan6Department of Community Health, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian HospitalMedical Department, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation Chia-Yi Christian HospitalHealth Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and WelfareHealth Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and WelfareInstitute of Gerontology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung UniversityAbstract Background Taiwan is predicted to become a super-aged society by 2025, and primary health centers (PHCs) are set to play a crucial role in the care of older adults. The Taiwanese government has developed an age-friendly verification framework for PHC. The aims of this study were to explore the difficulties faced by PHC staff in the implementation of age-friendly policies and their solution strategies. Methods This study adopted a qualitative research method. The first stage involved conducting five focus groups with the responsible staff of PHCs (n = 41) that have been certified “age-friendly.” The focus groups covered the effectiveness, difficulties, and resources of PHCs in regards to the introduction of age-friendly policies. In the second stage, in-depth interviews were conducted with executives of PHCs (n = 5), both certified and not certified as age-friendly, to further compare the difficulties faced by these two types of PHCs, thereby gaining perspectives for solution strategies. The principles of grounded theory were used for data analysis. Results Four major PHC strategies are employed in the promotion of age-friendliness. First, organizational management, through which managers apply management methods and analyze the present PHC-related health concerns; second, resource utilization, which refers to the tallying, linking, and integrating of resources; third, business operation process, in which work efficiency is improved through the combination of business operations and staff training; finally, hardware improvement, which is achieved through comprehensive cataloging of facility environments. Conclusion The implementation of age-friendliness in PHCs requires the efforts of both the service units and government. With resources provided by the government, PHCs can integrate management methods, businesses operations, and essential resources. Moreover, PHC executives can lead their teams in promoting age-friendly policies, and closely monitor their effectiveness.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08770-0Age-friendlyPrimary health centersQuality management |
| spellingShingle | Chen-I Shih Tuey-Wen Hung Wei Chen Hui-Fei Yang Shu-Li Chia Yung-Hung Chang Sheng-Yu Fan Difficulties and countermeasures in implementing age-friendly policies in primary health centers in Taiwan BMC Health Services Research Age-friendly Primary health centers Quality management |
| title | Difficulties and countermeasures in implementing age-friendly policies in primary health centers in Taiwan |
| title_full | Difficulties and countermeasures in implementing age-friendly policies in primary health centers in Taiwan |
| title_fullStr | Difficulties and countermeasures in implementing age-friendly policies in primary health centers in Taiwan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Difficulties and countermeasures in implementing age-friendly policies in primary health centers in Taiwan |
| title_short | Difficulties and countermeasures in implementing age-friendly policies in primary health centers in Taiwan |
| title_sort | difficulties and countermeasures in implementing age friendly policies in primary health centers in taiwan |
| topic | Age-friendly Primary health centers Quality management |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08770-0 |
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