A qualitative study examining everyday frailty management strategies adopted by Polish stakeholders

Eur J Gen Pract. 2019 Oct;25(4):197-204. doi: 10.1080/13814788.2019.1668372. Epub 2019 Oct 7.

Abstract

Background: Frailty is a multidimensional clinical state that is common in older age and can be managed through intervention. Strategies to manage frailty have not been previously explored with stakeholders in Poland. This may stem from misperceptions about the nature and malleability of frailty, which has resulted in it being viewed as a lower priority healthcare concern.Objectives: To explore stakeholders' views to determine whether there are effective everyday strategies that they can adopt to reduce, reverse or prevent frailty.Methods: Semi-structured focus groups were conducted with five stakeholder groups (frail/pre-frail and robust older adults, health and social care professionals and family caregivers) in Poland (n = 44). Data was analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach.Results: Two themes were developed. The first emphasized both the positive everyday and more effortful strategies used by individuals to counter frailty; these included the adoption of healthy lifestyle behaviours, social engagement and shared experiences. Stakeholders perceived that older adults, even frail ones, might benefit from engaging in meaningful activities to build resilience against frailty. The second examined formal interventions delivered by health and social care professionals. Stakeholders noted the need to increase awareness of the malleability of frailty among professionals.Conclusion: Raising awareness of the malleability of frailty amongst health and social care professionals is critical. Further, information provision and personal support should be essential elements of health interventions aimed at older adults and family caregivers. Interventions to support resilience building in older adults should also be framed within a model of fostering self-efficacy.[Box: see text].

Keywords: Frailty; general practice; preventive medicine.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Caregivers / psychology*
  • Delivery of Health Care / methods*
  • Female
  • Focus Groups
  • Frail Elderly*
  • Frailty / psychology
  • Frailty / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Poland
  • Qualitative Research

Grants and funding

This research is part of the project/joint action ‘664367/FOCUS’ which has received funding from the European Union’s Health Programme (2014–2020) and Ministry of Science and Higher Education in Poland (funding in years 2015–2018 allocated for the international co-financed project) but it had no role in data analysis or interpretation, nor in preparation, review or approval of the manuscript.