Reconstructing Social Participation in Rural Communities: A Qualitative Study of Community Nursing Practice.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Community Health Nursing
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Social isolation is rising among older adults in aging societies.
• Community nurses are crucial for facilitating social participation.
• Understanding how nurses reconstruct participation in practice is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify how community nurses reconstruct and facilitate participation in community-based rehabilitation.
• To explore the mechanisms of participation facilitation in everyday practice.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective qualitative study analyzing activity logs and reflective records of three community nurses.
• Thematic analysis using Braun and Clarke's framework.
• Interpretation of participation episodes referencing the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).

Main Results:

• 134 participation episodes identified across community life, recreation, relationships, and digital communication.
• Four key themes emerged: creating environments, facilitating roles, reconstructing through narratives, and bridging barriers.
• Participation is a dynamic, relational process within community interactions.

Conclusions:

• Community nurses are vital in reconstructing participation through relational engagement and support.
• Findings offer insights into operationalizing participation in community practice.
• Participation-oriented approaches show promise for aging societies.