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ABSTRACT
Background
This study aims to investigate the lived experience of well-being among older patients and their relatives in the transition from hospital to home after early discharge. Research has shown that the transition brings severe challenges to their everyday lives. However, to date, there has been a lack of research focusing on the lived experiences of well-being during this process.
Methods
The data collection and analysis followed the phenomenological approach of Reflective Lifeworld Research. Ten in-depth interviews with older patients and their relatives were conducted in Austria up to 2–5 days after hospital discharge.
Results
The essential meaning of the phenomenon of well-being in the transition from hospital to home is marked by security and confidence to face the challenges following the discharge. Four constituents emerged: being calm and in alignment with the homecoming, being in familiar surroundings at home—a sense of belonging, striving towards independence—continuity of life and having faith in the future.
Conclusion
Our findings point to the importance of recognizing the vulnerability associated with the transition from hospital to home, as it impacts the existential aspects of space and time. Facilitating a sense of continuity and belonging can foster well-being during this critical period.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank all our participants for sharing their time and experiences. Furthermore, we would like to thank the staff at the Ordensklinikum Linz GmbH, the Hanusch Krankenhaus and the Krankenhaus Göttlicher Heiland GmbH for their kind and engaged help to recruit the participants.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Authors contributions
AD under the supervision of AN and BM conceptualized the study. AD and AN contributed to the study design and methodology. AD collected the data and analysed it under the supervision of AN. BM and AH acted as reviewers. AD prepared the draft and all authors contributed to the development of the manuscript and read, revised and approved the final manuscript.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Aline Dragosits
Aline Dragosits MA is presently engaged in her PhD research at the Research Unit for Nursing and Healthcare, located at Aarhus University, Denmark. Aline’s research revolves around investigating the lived experiences of older patients and their relatives in relation to early discharge from hospitals to their homes with a focus on well-being. As part of her doctoral studies, she holds a Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship within the InnovateDignity Program which focuses on exploring various aspects of dignity and well-being in aged care.
Bente Martinsen
Bente Martinsen PhD is Associate Professor in nursing and study director of the Master’s programme in nursing at Roskilde University, Denmark. Her research is concerned with peoples’ experiences of physical impairment, the existential meaning of dependency, and different challenges related to ageing. Studies of homecare and homecare culture have also been a longstanding focus of research. Martinsen’s work is primarily informed by phenomenological research approaches and the resulting methodological implications.
Ann Hemingway
Ann Hemingway is a Professor of Public Health at the Department of Medical Science & Public Health at Bournemouth University, United Kingdom. Her work is international and national research focused on reducing inequalities in health outcomes for different groups. Ann works on social innovation (co-production) and non medicalised approaches to health & wellbeing. Ann regularly receives research funding from international and UK funders and publishes in peer reviewed international publications.
Annelise Norlyk
Annelise Norlyk is professor of nursing and study director, at the Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark. Norlyk’s research is primarily within the area of hospital-home transitions and community nursing such as patients’ recovery post discharge, existential dimensions related to living with chronic illness, and issues related to homecare nursing. Norlyk has a particular interest in methodological and ethical aspects related to qualitative research and her work draws primarily on hermeneutic and phenomenological research approaches.