Feasibility and outcomes of nurse-led home-based care (HBC) in refugee settings: a mixed-methods study on improving well-being for patients with restricted mobility and their caregivers

People with restricted mobility in humanitarian settings face extreme barriers to healthcare access, leading to functional decline, social isolation, and significant mental health distress [44]. In dense urban Lebanese refugee camps, hazardous infrastructure and the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) further exacerbate the vulnerability of homebound and bed-ridden individuals and their informal caregivers [30]. This study evaluates the operational feasibility and outcomes of a multidisciplinary nurse-led home-based care (HBC) model designed to address these physical and psychosocial needs. This convergent mixed-methods descriptive study investigated a nurse-led HBC program in the Shatila and Bourj el Barajneh refugee camps in Beirut, Lebanon, between June 2021 and October 2023. We analysed routinely collected operational data for 105 patient-caregiver dyads (verbal retrospective consent) and conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with a purposive subsample of 16 dyads as 32 participants 16 patients and 16 informal caregivers (written prospective consent) to explore participant perceptions. Quantitative outcomes were analysed for the n=79 dyads who completed the full intervention. The program achieved a high retention rate of 82%. Quantitative findings demonstrated significant improvements in mental health, with a reduction in depression and anxiety scores for both patients and caregivers (both p < 0.001). Enrolment was accompanied by statistically significant reductions in depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7) scores among both patients and caregivers (both \(p<0.001\) ). Statistically significant gains were observed in physical dependency (Basic Activities of Daily Living, p= 0.003), alongside documented wound healing and maintenance of high medication adherence. Qualitative data revealed that the program’s primary value lay in alleviating profound social isolation, restoring dignity, and providing emotional and practical support, which participants often prioritized alongside clinical nursing interventions. Multidisciplinary nurse-led HBC is a feasible and acceptable model for delivering care to highly vulnerable populations in complex humanitarian settings. While the single-arm design precludes definitive causal attribution, observed trajectories indicate that in contexts of chronic distress, the psychosocial and relational components of care are as vital as clinical nursing intervention for fostering resilience in both patients and caregivers.