The work of case managers as experienced by older persons (75+) with multi-morbidity – a focused ethnography

BMC Geriatrics

Research Article

Jimmie Kristensson¹  Göran Holst²  Doris Bohman²  Ania Willman³  Markus Hjelm⁴ 

[1] Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden;Department of Health, Blekinge Institute of Technology, SE-371 45, Karlskrona, Sweden;Department of Health, Blekinge Institute of Technology, SE-371 45, Karlskrona, Sweden;Department of Care Science, Malmö University, SE-211 18, Malmö, Sweden;Department of Health, Blekinge Institute of Technology, SE-371 45, Karlskrona, Sweden;Department of Health Sciences, Lund University, SE-221 00, Lund, Sweden;

关键词: Aged;    Case management;    Comorbidity;    Continuity of patient care;    Delivery of health care;    Ethnography;    Intervention;    Multi-morbidity;    Qualitative research;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12877-015-0172-3

 received in 2015-02-12, accepted in 2015-12-15,  发布年份 2015

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundComplex health systems make it difficult for older persons (75+) with multi-morbidity to achieve continuity of care. Case management could be one way to address this difficulty. Currently, there is a need to extend the knowledge regarding case management as experienced by those utilising the services, namely older persons (75+) with multi-morbidity. The study aimed to explore older persons’ (75+) with multi-morbidity experiences of case managers.MethodsThe study design was qualitative and used a focused ethnographic approach. Data was collected through individual interviews with 13 older persons and by participant observations with accompanying field notes, all conducted in 2012–2013.ResultsThe data revealed four themes illustrating the older persons’ experiences of case managers:1) Someone providing me with a trusting relationship; 2) Someone assisting me; 3) Someone who is on my side; and 4) Someone I do not need at present.ConclusionsThis study illustrates the importance of establishing trusting relationships between older persons and their case managers in order to truly provide assistance. The older persons valued the case managers acting as informed but unbiased facilitators. The findings could be of help in the development of case management interventions better designed for older persons with multi-morbidity.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Hjelm et al. 2015