Patient education in the hospital-at-home care context

Abstract

The objective of this study is to describe adult patients' and their family caregivers' experiences of patient education in the hospital-at-home care context. Methods included a cross-sectional descriptive study including three hospital-at-home units in Finland. Adult, non-palliative patients (n = 27) and their family caregivers (n = 18) were interviewed pairwise by telephone, and the data analyzed with inductive thematic content analysis. COREQ guidelines were used to plan and guide the study design. Results concluded both patients and family caregivers seemed to have quite similar knowledge expectations, which only differs slightly from findings in other in-or outpatient contexts. In the hospital-at-home context, there is an evident need for clinical coaching and guidance in relation to self-care activities and for futureoriented education about the services available after hospital-at-home care. Six themes describing patients' and family caregivers' experiences of patient education in the hospital-at-home care context emerged, from patient-centered, goaloriented and empowering education to the bypassed education of both patients and family caregivers. We conclude that in the hospital-at-home care context, the patient is not alone in his/her illness but instead the patient and family caregiver together form a unit. Thus, the need exists for extended, iterative patient education in hospital-at-home care: need for clinical coaching, guidance and support in relation to self-care activities and for future-oriented education about the services available after HAH care. Such extended patient education, in which patients' family caregivers were included, strengthens the patient-family caregiver relationship, minimizes caregiver burden and the need for additional healthcare services.

Cultural Factors and Social Changes Affecting Home Healthcare in Iran: A Qualitative Study

“…For instance, the qualitative survey 10 showed that societies' understanding and interpretation of HHC can affect the HHC utilization modes; therefore, individuals must receive general training on HHC. Vaartio-Rajalin et al 23 likewise reported that when HHC recipients are unaware of their rights, they become uncertain about the choices they make and the future that lies ahead. This problem reduces their satisfaction and negatively affects their future choices.…”

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“…Health professionals play a key role in hospitals' health education initiatives: they analyze patients' skills in health literacy and propose medical information that satisfies patients' needs in terms of knowledge and emotional support (Navarro, 2020). Thanks to this patient-centered education approach, patients reinforce their empowerment and establish better relationships with health professionals (Vaartio-Rajalin, Nyholm, Fagerström, 2020). On the other hand, health professionals measure their patients' empowerment in different ways: analyzing their behaviours and prejudices, and implementing continuous monitoring systems (Navarro Martínez, Igual García, Traver Salcedo, 2021).…”

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