Experiences and challenges of home care nurses and general practitioners in home-based palliative care – a qualitative study

Abstract Background Most French people (71%) would like to die at home, but only one out of four actually do. While the difficulties inherent in the practice of home-based palliative care are well described, few studies highlight the resources currently used by general practitioners (GPs) in real life. We have therefore sought to highlight the resources actually used by GPs providing home-based palliative care. Methods Twenty-one GPs of different ages and practice patterns agreed to participate to this qualitative study based upon semi-structured interviews. They were recruited according to a purposive sampling. Transcripts analysis was based upon General Inductive Analysis. Results The resources highlighted have been classified into two main categories according to whether they were internal or external to the GPs. The internal resources raised included the doctor’s practical experience and continuous medical education, personal history, work time organization and a tacit moral contract related to the referring GP’s position. External resources included resource personnel, regional assistance platforms and health facilities, legislation. Conclusion This study provides a simple list that is easy to share and pragmatic solutions for GPs and policymakers. Home-based palliative care practice can simultaneously be burdensome and yet a fulfilling, meaningful activity, depending on self-efficacy and professional exhaustion (burnout), perhaps to a greater extent than on medical knowledge. Home-based palliative care promotion is a matter of social responsibility. The availability of multidisciplinary teams such as regional assistance platforms and Hospitalization at Home is particularly important for the management of palliative care. Policymakers should consolidate these specific resources out of hospitals, in community settings where the patients wish to end their life.

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Experiences of general practitioners, home care nurses, physiotherapists and seniors involved in a multidisciplinary home-based fall prevention programme: a mixed method study

BMC Health Services Research ◽

10.1186/s12913-016-1719-5 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Astrid E. Amacher ◽

Irina Nast ◽

Barbara Zindel ◽

Lukas Schmid ◽

Valérie Krafft ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Home Care ◽

General Practitioners ◽

Mixed Method ◽

Fall Prevention ◽

Prevention Programme ◽

Mixed Method Study ◽

Home Based ◽

Fall Prevention Programme ◽

Home Care Nurses

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A qualitative study of home care client and caregiver experiences with a complex cardio-respiratory management model

BMC Geriatrics ◽

10.1186/s12877-021-02251-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Connie Schumacher ◽

Darly Dash ◽

Fabrice Mowbray ◽

Lindsay Klea ◽

Andrew Costa

Keyword(s):

Health Service ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Home Care ◽

Therapeutic Relationship ◽

Service Use ◽

Management Model ◽

Health Service Use ◽

Self Management ◽

Home Based ◽

Respiratory Management

Abstract Background Home care clients are typically older and have some degree of medical, physical, cognitive or social conditions that require formal or informal support to promote healthy aging in the community. Home care clients contribute a significant proportion of health service use, including emergency department visits. The DIVERT-CARE trial introduced a cardio-respiratory management model to improve client motivation, symptoms and rates of unwarranted health service use. Our objective was to explore the perceptions and experiences of individuals who participated in the DIVERT-CARE self-management support and education intervention. Methods A qualitative study was nested within a pragmatic randomized control trial and conducted following a 15-week multi-component cardio-respiratory intervention. A phenomenological descriptive design was employed using thematic analysis. Post-intervention, clients and their caregivers were invited to participate in a semi-structured telephone interview. Interview questions were designed to elicit the experience with the intervention components. Results A total of 29 interviews were completed from June 2018 to March 2020 from participants in Ontario, Newfoundland, and British Columbia. Three themes were identified; self-care trajectory and burden of responsibility, learning and behaviour change, and feeling connected pre-emptively to care providers, the information and medical advice, and connection through the therapeutic relationship. Conclusions Home care clients experience unique challenges in managing cardio-respiratory related chronic disease. Home-based interventions fostered a therapeutic relationship of connectedness while equipping clients with necessary knowledge and skills. These results inform recommendations for community nursing, and home-based self-management supports for older community-residing individuals.

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