Article

This qualitative study was imbedded in a randomized controlled trial
evaluating the addition of geriatricians to usual care to enable the
comprehensive geriatric assessment process with older patients on acute medical
units. The qualitative study explored the perspectives of intervention
participants on their care and treatment. DESIGN:
A constructivist study
incorporating semi-structured interviews that were conducted in patients' homes
within six weeks of discharge from the acute medical unit. These interviews were
recorded, transcribed, and analysed using thematic analysis. SETTING: An acute
medical unit in the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: Older patients ( n = 18) and
their informal carers ( n = 6) discharged directly home from an acute medical
unit, who had been in the intervention group of the randomized controlled trial.
RESULTS: Three core themes were constructed: (1) perceived lack of treatment on
the acute medical unit; (2) nebulous grasp of the role of the geriatrician; and
(3) on-going health and activities of daily living needs postdischarge. These
needs impacted upon the informal carers, who either took over, or helped the
patients to complete their activities of daily living.
Despite the help received
with activities of daily living, a lot of the patients voiced a desire to
complete these activities themselves. CONCLUSIONS:
The participants perceived
they were just monitored and observed on the acute medical unit, rather than
receiving active treatment, and spoke of on-going unresolved health and activity
of daily living needs following discharge, despite receiving the additional
intervention of a geriatrician.

Langue : ANGLAIS