"In Our Corner": A Qualitative Descriptive Study of Patient Engagement in a Community-Based Care Coordination Program.
Justine S Sefcik, Darina Petrovsky, Megan Streur and 7 others
PMID 28038504WHAT IT FOUND
Older adults in a nurse-led care coordination program said they stayed engaged because they felt nurses and peers were 'in their corner'.
They valued monthly nurse visits, medication checks, coaching, and group classes.
Key findings
01Participants attributed continued involvement and their reported health improvement to feeling that opportunities, resources, peers, and clinical staff were 'in their corner'.
02A primary benefit participants identified was routine, in-person contact with their assigned nurse, at least monthly.
03Group classes were valued for health education and social connection with other participants.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
All participants were current HQP enrollees and reported satisfaction, so the study did not include people who left the program or had negative experiences. The sample was small and limited: all were 65 and older, white, non-Hispanic, had at least high school education, and many had some college. Participants had to travel to the focus groups, so people too ill or without transportation were excluded. The study reports perceptions, not measured health outcomes or causal effects.
Declared interests
No funding or conflict statement appears in the supplied article text. The metadata lists NIH extramural and non-U.S. government research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that nurse care coordination improves health outcomes or keeps patients engaged. The study reports perceptions from 20 current, satisfied participants who could attend focus groups, and it did not measure outcomes or include people who left the program.