Older adults' experiences of shared decision-making with district nurses on interventions to support independence: An interpretive phenomenological study

Nursing care at home is referred to as district nursing care in The Netherlands. In this study we applied an interpretive phenomenological design to examine the experiences of home-dwelling older adults with multiple chronic conditions on shared decision-making with district nurses about interventions that support independent functioning. Fifteen semi-structured interviews with home-dwelling older adults with multiple chronic conditions, receiving district nursing care, were conducted in The Netherlands. Analysis of these semi-structured interviews showed that older adults were unfamiliar with the possibility to make shared decision with district nurses about interventions to support independence. Therefore, independence problems and goals in health and social domains remained undiscussed. Further research, into how shared decision-making to support independent functioning in older adults with multiple chronic conditions can be disseminated and implemented in the education and practice of district nurses, seems necessary. The focus should be on a holistic and person-centered approach and involvement of patients, informal caregivers, the district, and formal caregivers.