ABSTRACT
Among medical professionals, the role of home care workers is crucial in the care of patients in their homes. In Japan, however, research on the difficulties home care workers face while working in rural zones is limited. Using thematic analysis, a qualitative study was conducted with 57 home care workers in a rural area of Japan. Findings revealed the difficulties they experienced regarding the medical problems of their patients and in their relationships with other professionals. The old customs of rural medicine and the system of long-term care insurance strongly influence relationships among multiprofessionals, leading to conflict and hierarchy.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank all the participants who took part in this research.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.