Towards person-centred work-focused healthcare for people with cardiovascular disease: a qualitative exploration of patients' experiences and needs

Marije E Hagendijk; Nina Zipfel; Marijke Melles; Philip J van der Wees; Carel T J Hulshof; Ersen B Çölkesen; Jan L Hoving; Sylvia J van der Burg-Vermeulen

doi:10.1080/09638288.2024.2344653

Towards person-centred work-focused healthcare for people with cardiovascular disease: a qualitative exploration of patients' experiences and needs

Disabil Rehabil. 2024 Apr 27:1-13. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2344653. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Marije E Hagendijk¹, Nina Zipfel¹, Marijke Melles², Philip J van der Wees³, Carel T J Hulshof¹, Ersen B Çölkesen⁴, Jan L Hoving^{1

5}, Sylvia J van der Burg-Vermeulen¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public and Occupational Health, Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
² Department of Human-Centred Design, Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
³ Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare (IQ Healthcare), Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
⁴ Department of Cardiology, St. Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
⁵ Research Centre for Insurance Medicine, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

PMID: 38676465
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2344653

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the experiences and needs concerning work-focused healthcare of patients experiencing problems with work participation due to cardiovascular disease based on all facets of person-centred care.

Methods: Nineteen patients who experienced or continue to experience problems with work participation due to cardiovascular disease participated in semi-structured interviews preceded by preparatory written assignments. The transcripts were analysed by means of directed qualitative content analysis. Adapted principles of the Picker Institute for Person-Centred Care provided a template for the analysis.

Results: 28 experiences and needs emerged and were grouped into the eight principles for person-centred work-focused healthcare. Randomly presenting one theme for each of the eight principles, the themes included: (1) frequent encounters with occupational healthcare professionals; (2) substantive work-related advice; (3) transparency in communication; (4) support for family; (5) information provision on the work-focused healthcare process; (6) personal control during the process; (7) empathy for the personal situation; and (8) tailored work-focused support.

Conclusions: The identified experiences and needs for work-focused healthcare of patients experiencing problems with work participation due to cardiovascular disease clearly indicate the need to improve the delivery of person-centred work-focused healthcare to better meet the individual needs of patients.

Keywords: Patient-centred care; cardiovascular diseases; needs assessment; occupational health; occupational health services; qualitative research; sick leave.

Plain language summary

Provided work-focused healthcare services do not always align with the patient’s needs when experiencing disease-related sick leave, potentially impacting their ability to stay in or return to work.This overview of patients’ experiences and needs for work-focused healthcare may provide professionals with better insight into the patients’ needs and aids to adapt the healthcare provision to these needs.When professionals target the patient’s needs, it may facilitate better provision of person-centred work-focused healthcare.