Key result
Physical enablers, coping strategies such as acceptance, support networks, and continuity of care were identified as key factors helping high-risk patients avoid unplanned hospital admissions.
Observational (n=30)
Yes
Physical enablers, coping strategies, support networks, and continuity of care are important factors in helping high-risk primary care patients avoid unplanned hospital admissions.
May guide primary care support for high-risk patients; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation.
BACKGROUND: There is little evidence documenting the attitudes, experiences, and behavioural factors of high-risk patients who are associated with avoiding hospital. AIM: To explore the health, healthcare management, and behavioural factors that contribute to enabling high-risk patients to avoid unplanned hospital admissions. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was an in-depth qualitative, primary care, interview study with patients who were registered on the Northumberland High Risk Patient Programme (NHRPP) in Northumberland, UK. METHOD: There were 30 participants in this study, of who 21 were high-risk patients and nine were carers, spouses, or relatives. A grounded-theory approach was used to explore themes that emerged from the semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: Participants described physical enablers that helped them to avoid hospital including medication, living aids, and resting; however, the benefit of these may be challenged by patient decision making. The strategies that patients used to cope with their health conditions included acceptance, positive reinterpretation, and growth. Participants felt that support networks of family and friends helped them to avoid hospital, although the strain on the spouse should be considered. The majority of patients described having trust and confidence in their healthcare providers, and continuity of care was important to patients. CONCLUSION: Reinforcing the importance of the physical enablers, as well as support networks to patients, carers, and healthcare providers, could help patients to avoid hospital. Highlighting the coping strategies that patients use may help patients to manage their health, while promoting continuity of care will also contribute to helping high-risk patients to avoid unplanned hospital admissions.
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Dew et al. (2018) conducted an observational in High risk of hospital admission (n=30). Factors enabling hospital admission avoidance (physical enablers, coping strategies, support networks, continuity of care) was evaluated on Attitudes, experiences, and behavioral factors contributing to avoiding unplanned hospital admissions. Physical enablers, coping strategies such as acceptance, support networks, and continuity of care were identified as key factors helping high-risk patients avoid unplanned hospital admissions.
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