A proposal that patients be considered honorary members of the healthcare team.
Most research on cross-boundary issues in healthcare focuses on boundaries between groups of healthcare professionals, or between different healthcare settings. This paper considers the boundary between healthcare professionals and their patients, as complementary providers of care to the individual. Following major surgery, patients now spend the vast majority of their rehabilitation period in their own homes. This raises questions about where to draw the boundary around a healthcare intervention, and how to allocate and support responsibility for care once the patient is home. This paper reports the findings of a study within orthopaedic surgery that followed patients from a few weeks before their surgery to 3 months afterwards, recording their interpretations of their healthcare experiences. Most patients were keen to take responsibility for playing their part in trying to optimize the outcome of their surgery, but many were frustrated by lack of information and support to allow them to fulfil this role to their satisfaction. Reconceptualization of patients as honorary members of the healthcare team may facilitate the development of a framework within which the potential contribution of patients to their own care could be valued and supported more effectively. This would contribute towards optimizing patient outcomes and increasing patient satisfaction with care.
Edwards
Carol
C
Royal College of Nursing Institute, Radcliffe Infirmary, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6HE, UK. carol.edwards@rcn.org.uk
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires