Perceived Connections Between Personal Values and Health in High-Risk Patients with Multimorbidity: A Qualitative...

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Qualitative Health Research
• Patient-Centered Care

Background:

• Healthcare systems increasingly focus on whole person care and personalized health planning for patients with multimorbidity.
• Understanding patient values is crucial for effective personalized care, yet few studies explore this for high-risk multimorbidity patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how high-risk patients with multimorbidity perceive the connection between their personal values and their health, healthcare experiences, and decision-making.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study involving individual semi-structured telephone interviews.
• Participants were patients at high risk (≥ 75th percentile) of hospitalization or mortality with multiple chronic conditions (depression, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, or diabetes).
• Interviews were analyzed using content analysis.

Main Results:

• Personal values were infrequently discussed in healthcare settings or integrated into decision-making, with some patients deeming them less relevant.
• Connections between values and health decisions were primarily observed in specific contexts, such as surgical choices.
• Eliciting personal values had varied consequences; not all patients were comfortable disclosing them, and preferences for disclosure varied.

Conclusions:

• High-risk patients with multimorbidity reported limited discussion of personal values in healthcare, with perceived relevance often context-dependent.
• While some patients found value in sharing personal beliefs, others preferred not to disclose them, highlighting the need for patient preference consideration.
• Integrating patient values requires understanding individual preferences for elicitation and incorporation into care plans.