Re/connecting with “home”: a mixed methods study of service provider and patient perspectives to facilitate implementing rehabilitation in the home for reconditioning
Creators: name: Warner, Kerry N.
name: Poulos, Roslyn G.
name: Cole, Andrew M.
name: Nguyen, Tuan-Anh
name: Un, Fey-Ching
name: Faux, Steven G.
name: Kohler, Friedbert
name: Alexander, Tara
name: Capell, Jacquelin T.
name: Hilvert, Dan R.
name: O’Connor, Claire M. C.
name: Poulos, Christopher J.
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Science Policy

description: To explore the views of healthcare professionals and patients about the advantages and disadvantages of rehabilitation in the home (RITH) for reconditioning, and identify factors that should contribute to the successful implementation of a consensus-based RITH model for reconditioning. Interviews with 24 healthcare professionals and 21 surveys (comprising Likert scale and free text responses) of inpatients undergoing rehabilitation for reconditioning provided study data. Interpretive thematic analysis was used to analyse interview data; descriptive statistics analysed Likert scale responses; patient written responses assisted with the interpretation of themes developed from the interview data. Two major themes were elicited in this study: the home is a physical setting and the home is a lived space. Advantages and disadvantages of RITH for patients, carers and healthcare professionals were identified within these themes. Appropriate patient selection; effective communication with patients and carers, and within RITH teams; adequate patient and carer support; ensuring the safety of patients and staff; and education of patients, carers and healthcare professionals are essential for the satisfactory implementation of RITH. The concept of home shapes the delivery of RITH. Recognising the advantages and disadvantages of RITH highlights important considerations needed to successfully implement RITH for reconditioning. The home setting facilitates a person-centred approach to care, especially when staff consider patients to be equal partners in their care.Home offers an opportunity to negotiate contextually relevant rehabilitation goals with patients.Effective communication between patients, their local doctor, family, and rehabilitation staff is essential for the successful delivery of rehabilitation in the home.Safety concerns (for patients and staff) and the shift in the burden of care from hospital staff to family must be adequately addressed prior to the commencement of rehabilitation in the home. The home setting facilitates a person-centred approach to care, especially when staff consider patients to be equal partners in their care. Home offers an opportunity to negotiate contextually relevant rehabilitation goals with patients. Effective communication between patients, their local doctor, family, and rehabilitation staff is essential for the successful delivery of rehabilitation in the home. Safety concerns (for patients and staff) and the shift in the burden of care from hospital staff to family must be adequately addressed prior to the commencement of rehabilitation in the home.