Involvement of Practice Nurses in Chronic Care
Author Information
Author(s): Rosemann Thomas, Joest Katharina, Körner Thorsten, Schaefert Rainer, Heiderhoff Marc, Szecsenyi Joachim
Primary Institution: University of Heidelberg
Hypothesis
What is the current involvement of practice nurses in the care of chronically ill patients in Germany?
Conclusion
Practice nurses are only marginally involved in patient care, and both GPs and patients are skeptical about increasing their role.
Supporting Evidence
- Practice nurses are currently only rarely involved in diagnostics and treatment.
- Patients and GPs are generally positive about the involvement of practice nurses in education and advice.
- Barriers to increased involvement include lack of medical knowledge and skepticism from GPs.
Takeaway
Practice nurses in Germany help with some patient care, but most people think they should do more. However, many are unsure about this because they worry about the nurses' training.
Methodology
Qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 20 GPs, 20 practice nurses, and 20 patients.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the subjective nature of qualitative interviews.
Limitations
The study sample included older patients with low education levels, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 20 GPs, 20 practice nurses, and 20 patients, with patients primarily having osteoarthritis and at least one additional chronic disease.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website