Sammanfattning
Introduction: The prevalence of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) is increasing in women and older
people. A limited number of studies have investigated whether
health related quality of life of COPD patients changes during a
hospital-at-home scheme following discharge from hospital.
Aims: To investigate whether there is a change in health-related
quality of life in older women with COPD in connection
with hospital-at-home scheme following hospital discharge,
and to gain knowledge about how older women with COPD
experience hospital-at-home.
Methods: The project combined quantitative and qualitative
methods. Fifteen patients were mapped with regard to
health related quality of life on three data collection points in
connection with hospital-at-home scheme following hospital
discharge. Nine patients were interviewed about their experiences
with hospital-at-home.
Results: No significant changes were found with regard to
health related quality of life after a hospital-at-home scheme
following hospital discharge during the project period. Three
themes emerged from the qualitative data analyses: the
personal relationship between the patients and the nurses,
continuity in education and supervisjon from the nurses and
the patients' own social network.
Conclusion: Results from this project supports the implementation
of outpatient follow-up at home for older women
with COPD.