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The study aimed to explore the experiences of care and recovery among older patients treated for physical trauma.
A qualitative study with a constructivist grounded theory design.
Fifteen in-depth interviews with older adults recovering from physical trauma were conducted and analysed between 2019 and 2023, in accordance with grounded theory methodology.
The findings show that for older patients who suffered physical trauma, the core category was the strive to recapture autonomy. This was achieved by means of Adaptation, Reflection and Interactions, which constitute the three main categories. Recovery involves facing and navigating various new life challenges, such as increased dependency on others, managing difficult symptoms and adapting in various ways to everyday life. The recovery process was influenced by fear, hope and the attitude towards new challenges.
Older adults being cared for after a traumatic event have a difficult path to recovery ahead of them. Dealing with increased unwanted dependency on others was a main concern for the participants. Undertreated symptoms can lead to undesired isolation, delayed recovery and further increase unwanted dependency. On the other hand, hope, which was defined as having a positive approach to life and longing for the future, was a strong accelerating factor in the recovery process.
As a result of this study, we have established that older patients experience the initial period after trauma as difficult and that support in the initial phase can be helpful when returning home. As healthcare services are under increasing pressure because of an ageing population, this study contributes by addressing an understudied population and clarifying their concerns.
Reporting adheres to the COREQ (COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research) Checklist.
No patient or public involvement.
The aims of the study were to describe sleep quality among community-dwelling older people; determine the association between sleep quality (total and multidimensional), frailty and overall health; study frailty as a mediator in the association between sleep quality and overall health.
This longitudinal, correlative study used data from 2020 to 2022.
A total of 181 community-dwelling older people in a city in Southeast China were assessed twice. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at Time 1 (year 2020); frailty was measured using the FRAIL scale, and overall health was measured using the EuroQol visual analogue scale at Time 1 and 2 (1 year later). Associations and indirect effects were examined using linear regression analyses using the PROCESS Macro (Model 4).
Poor sleep quality (higher scores) was associated with increased frailty over time (total scale), as well as subjective sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep efficiency and daytime dysfunction. Mediation analyses indicated that frailty change had an indirect effect on the association between sleep quality total score Time (T) 1 and overall health T2 and between the dimensions subjective sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep efficiency and daytime dysfunction and overall health. All analyses were adjusted for age, multimorbidity and overall health T1.
Poor sleep quality is a common problem associated with poor overall health after 1 year, and the progression of frailty mediates this association.
The findings provide a better understanding of the association between sleep quality and overall health and elucidate the mediating effect of frailty. Regular screening and effective treatment by healthcare providers for sleep problems and frailty in older people are necessary to improve their overall health and enhance healthy ageing.
Participants in the study provided the data used for all data analysis in the manuscript. Patient or public were not involved in data analysis, interpretation or manuscript preparation. Staff in the community health centre helped with data collection.
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