Staff experiences of person-centred care and quality of life in nursing homes as influenced by leadership and work situation: a qualitative study

Background PCC is widely recognised as an important approach to supporting QoL in nursing homes. However, staff’s ability to provide PCC may be influenced by leadership and working conditions. There is still limited knowledge of how staff themselves experience performing PCC to support residents’ QoL in everyday nursing home care. The aim of this study was to explore staff experiences of providing PCC to support resident QoL and how their provision of PCC is influenced by leadership and staff working conditions. Methods A qualitative study design was used. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 enrolled nurses and five nursing assistants working in nursing homes in four Swedish municipalities between February and May 2024. Data were analysed using qualitative conventional content analysis. Results An overarching theme, Creating everyday meaning despite challenges , was supported by three categories: Building human relationships in care , Connecting through communication and teamwork , and Overcoming obstacles for person-centred care . Meaningful relationships, attentiveness and tailored support were described as central to providing PCC and supporting residents’ QoL. Communication and teamwork enabled staff to understand and respond to residents’ individual needs, while leadership contributed by supporting staff and facilitating teamwork. Organisational barriers, including staffing shortages, time pressure, communication difficulties and limited leadership support, constrained staff members’ ability to consistently provide PCC and support residents’ QoL. Conclusions Staff described a strong intrinsic commitment to providing PCC that supports residents’ QoL. However, their ability to do so was shaped by leadership and organisational conditions. Enabling PCC in nursing homes therefore requires not only staff commitment, but also supportive leadership, adequate staffing and work environments that allow time, communication and continuity in care. Clinical trial number Not applicable.