A Hybrid Concept Analysis of Frailty Among Older Adults Living in the Community

To analyse the concept of frailty through a literature review and in-depth interviews.

A hybrid model of concept analysis.

The theoretical phase identified 43 articles for reviewing the definition and measurement of frailty. Seven frail older adults were invited in the fieldwork phase for in-depth interviews. In the final analysis phase, results from the fieldwork and theoretical phases were integrated to obtain a final definition of frailty.

Attributes of frailty were heterogeneous, involving dynamic/bidirectional, multidimensional and multiple systems. The antecedents of the concept were exposure to various stimuli and challenges in responding to these stimuli. Consequences included losing autonomy and adverse health outcomes. Four themes of frailty were identified based on the fieldwork data: 'accumulation of functional decline', 'powerlessness of coping with', 'vicissitudes of lived experience' and 'loss of autonomy and positivity'.

The final definition of frailty was 'a dynamic and fluctuating process of powerlessness to manage biopsychosocial and environmental stimuli, involving functional decline and vicissitudes of life, which results in losing autonomy and positivity or adverse health outcomes'.

Characterising the definition of frailty is essential for nurses to address the lived experiences of older adults when providing person-centred care and for developing interventions that meet the needs of frail older adults.

Since some discrepancies existed in the definition of frailty from individual perception of older adults, combined in-depth interviews with a theoretical literature review were used to provide comprehensive insight. This concept analysis provides guidelines of training for nurses and opportunities to improving quality of life for community dwelling older adults.

N/A.

No Patient or Public Contribution.