Eleni Skaperdas1, Anaïs Tuepker2, Christina Nicolaidis3, Jessica K Robb4, Devan Kansagara2, David H Hickam5. 1. Portland VA Medical Center Health Services Research and Development, VISN 20 PACT Demonstration Laboratory, Veterans Health Administration, Portland, USA. Electronic address: eleni.skaperdas@va.gov. 2. Portland VA Medical Center Health Services Research and Development, VISN 20 PACT Demonstration Laboratory, Veterans Health Administration, Portland, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, USA. 3. Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, USA; School of Social Work, Portland State University, Portland, USA; Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, USA. 4. Portland VA Medical Center Health Services Research and Development, VISN 20 PACT Demonstration Laboratory, Veterans Health Administration, Portland, USA. 5. Portland VA Medical Center Health Services Research and Development, VISN 20 PACT Demonstration Laboratory, Veterans Health Administration, Portland, USA; Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Washington, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Understand patients' experiences with primary care services for congestive heart failure (CHF) and explore the relationship between health services and self-management. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with thirty-nine patients with CHF receiving care at one Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VA). We analyzed data using thematic content analysis. RESULTS: Participants acknowledged the importance of ongoing engagement in the plan of care for CHF. They attributed success in this effort to be greatly influenced by personal advocates. The advocates included both members of the healthcare team with whom they had a continuity relationship and friends or family members who assisted on a daily basis. Participants also identified psychological symptoms as a major barrier to carrying out self-care. CONCLUSION: Patients identify relationships with health care workers, help from family and friends, and mental health problems as major influences on the ability to manage their CHF. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Efforts to optimize CHF self-management should attend to health system and psychosocial barriers to care. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
OBJECTIVE: Understand patients' experiences with primary care services for congestive heart failure (CHF) and explore the relationship between health services and self-management. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with thirty-nine patients with CHF receiving care at one Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VA). We analyzed data using thematic content analysis. RESULTS:Participants acknowledged the importance of ongoing engagement in the plan of care for CHF. They attributed success in this effort to be greatly influenced by personal advocates. The advocates included both members of the healthcare team with whom they had a continuity relationship and friends or family members who assisted on a daily basis. Participants also identified psychological symptoms as a major barrier to carrying out self-care. CONCLUSION:Patients identify relationships with health care workers, help from family and friends, and mental health problems as major influences on the ability to manage their CHF. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Efforts to optimize CHF self-management should attend to health system and psychosocial barriers to care. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
Authors: Kori A LaDonna; Joanna Bates; Glendon R Tait; Allan McDougall; Valerie Schulz; Lorelei Lingard Journal: Health Expect Date: 2016-02-29 Impact factor: 3.377