Older person's experience of PT4Ageing-A programme on self-management «support» in chronic illness

Célia Santos; Carla Silvia Fernandes; Celeste Bastos; Márcia Antonieta Cruz; Sandra Costa; Lígia Lima

doi:10.1016/j.enfcle.2023.09.001

Older person's experience of PT4Ageing-A programme on self-management «support» in chronic illness

Enferm Clin (Engl Ed). 2023 Sep-Oct;33(5):346-352. doi: 10.1016/j.enfcle.2023.09.001. Epub 2023 Sep 14.

Authors

Célia Santos¹, Carla Silvia Fernandes², Celeste Bastos¹, Márcia Antonieta Cruz³, Sandra Costa⁴, Lígia Lima¹

Affiliations

¹ Escuela de Enfermería de Oporto, Porto, Portugal; lCINTESIS@RISE Research, Porto, Portugal.
² Escuela de Enfermería de Oporto, Porto, Portugal; lCINTESIS@RISE Research, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: carlasilviaf@gmail.com.
³ Escuela de Enfermería de Oporto, Porto, Portugal.
⁴ lCINTESIS@RISE Research, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidad de Oporto, Porto, Portugal; ACES Grande Porto I - Santo Tirso/Trofa, ARS Norte Administración Sanitaria del Norte, I.P., Porto, Portugal.

PMID: 37714461
DOI: 10.1016/j.enfcle.2023.09.001

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to describe the experience of a group of older adults who participated in a chronic illness self-management program.

Methods: The study employed a qualitative phenomenological approach. Participants were eight elders and data collected using semi-structured interviews Data was analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Five themes emerged from the analysis: (1) Tips to improve our daily lives, (2) I was always motivated, (3) Sharing and mutual help, (4) They made us believe we were capable (5). It would be great if it did not end here. Globally, the participants of the program described their experience as very positive. They identified gains from participating in the program, such as learning strategies to help them cope with their health problems, improving their ability to manage their illnesses more autonomously and building social support, that even persisted after the conclusion of the intervention.

Conclusion: The findings of this study provide insight into how older adults experience a program for the self-management of chronic illness. For the development of future programs, support building must be considered. Older adults who participate in self-management programmes exhibit improved self-efficacy in relation to the management their chronic illnesses and greater autonomy in self-care.

Keywords: Adultos mayores; Autogestión; Chronic disease; Enfermedad crónica; Enfoque fenomenológico cualitativo; Older adults; Qualitative phenomenological approach; Self-management.