Care that ran smoothly, was responsive to clients’ needs, and required no special effort for clients to maintain was important for continuity in home care
Q What are key stakeholders’ (clients, caregivers, case managers, and home care workers) perspectives of continuity in home care?
DESIGN
Qualitative study.
SETTING
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
PARTICIPANTS
13 case managers, 19 home service providers, 25 clients, 5 caregivers, and 3 physicians who had patients receiving home care. All participants were linked to a community care access centre.
METHODS
Data were collected mainly by indepth telephone interviews, although some interviews were done face to face. Interviews lasted 45–90 minutes. All but 3 interviews were tape recorded and transcribed (interviews not tape recorded were recorded by hand written notes and dictation after the interviews).
An iterative process of data collection and analysis was used to confirm and reconfirm emerging themes. 4 researchers read text associated with various codes and triangulated their interpretations to develop higher level meaning. Data were analysed using a coding scheme derived from preliminary analysis. Input from an advisory group was sought to ensure accuracy of …
