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Coping with multimorbidity in old age--a qualitative study
Christin Löffler1, Hanna Kaduszkiewicz, Carl-Otto Stolzenbach
1Institute of General Practice, Universitätsmedizin Rostock, Doberaner Str, 142, Rostock, 18057, Germany. christin.loeffler@med.uni-rostock.de
BMC Family Practice
|May 30, 2012
Summary
Older patients with multiple chronic conditions (multimorbidity) actively manage their health and maintain a positive outlook. They strive for autonomy and disease control, challenging assumptions of patient passivity.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Primary Care Medicine
- Qualitative Health Research
Background:
- Multimorbidity presents significant challenges for healthcare providers and patients.
- Limited research exists on how older adults navigate the complexities of multiple chronic conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore coping strategies of patients aged 65-85 experiencing multimorbidity.
- To understand the patient perspective on managing multiple health conditions.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 19 narrative in-depth interviews with patients aged 65-85 with multimorbidity.
- Employed grounded theory for data analysis.
- Participants were recruited from Hamburg and North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Main Results:
- Interviewees demonstrated positive life attitudes despite multimorbidity.
- Patients prioritized maintaining social autonomy and emotional resilience.
- Focus was on actively controlling diseases and a critical view of medication.
Conclusions:
- Older patients with multimorbidity are not passively accepting of medical treatment.
- Future primary care strategies should leverage patients' potential for proactive engagement.
- Findings suggest a need to re-evaluate treatment approaches for multimorbid older adults.
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