title: Personal Life Approach: An Interactive Way of Understanding Older Adults' Participation in Activities Following Hospitalization.
abstract: To explore factors that support or inhibit participation in daily activities amongst older adults who have returned home following hospitalization.
  
  
  
  An exploratory qualitative design was used to gather information from a sample of older adults. Participants were recruited during their hospital stay from acute and rehabilitation wards in Victoria, Australia. Semistructured interviews were carried out in the participants' home within 6 weeks of discharge. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis.
  
  
  
  Participants (n = 21) were aged ≥65 years (mean 82 years [SD 8.5]), 57% were female (n = 11) and 76% with English as their first language (n = 16). Thematic analysis identified one primary theme (personal life approach) moderated by spirituality and two subthemes; interpretation of physical and mental abilities, and social interactions. The life approach acted as a filter through which participants interpreted their abilities and social interactions that either supported or inhibited their return to participation after a stay in hospital.
  
  
  
  The findings suggest that clinicians need to consider the individual's approach to life in their recovery following hospitalization. This approach can influence their return to participation in activities and potentially be supported (towards higher levels of optimism) by health professionals to enhance participation in activities postdischarge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Monash University, Peninsula Campus, McMahons Road, Frankston, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. elizabeth.pritchard@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pritchard
authors.affiliation: Social science and health research, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Narelle
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, The Alfred Research Center, Monash University, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Department, Monash University, Peninsula Campus, McMahons Road, Frankston, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Ted
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Monash University, Peninsula Campus, McMahons Road, Frankston, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Allied Health Research Unit, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Haines
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D000067656:Optimism; D010351:Patient Discharge; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Hospitalization; Internal/external control; Optimism; Participation in activities; Qualitative analysis: thematic analysis