An evaluation of the effectiveness of engaging Canadian clients as partners in in‐home care. (6th December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McWilliam, C. L.; Vingilis, E.; Ward‐Griffin, C.; Higuchi, K.; Stewart, M.; Mantler, T.; Gao, R.
• Is Part Of: Health & social care in the community. Volume 22:Number 2(2014)
• Page Start: 210
• Page End: 224
• Publication Date: 2013-12-06
• Subjects: Public welfare -- Periodicals; Community health services -- Periodicals; Human services -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1111/hsc.12082
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0966-0410

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="hsc12082-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>This exploratory quasi‐experimental evaluation assessed the effectiveness of the use of a concrete discussion guide to promote organisation‐wide application of a partnering approach to engage older home‐care clients with chronic disease/disabilities as care partners. A post‐test‐only design with an independent pre‐test sample was used to compare selected outcomes with those of standard in‐home care. The theoretically informed discussion guide portrayed <italic>how to</italic> go about the process of empowering partnering by using language and open‐ended conversational leads to construct partnering, partnering effort and health as a resource for everyday living through social interaction. The discussion guide was provided to all providers for use with all clients in one home‐care programme in Ontario, Canada and this organisation was compared with a similar but geographically distanced organisation, also in Ontario. Seven hundred and ninety‐one randomly selected clients (mean age = 72.5 years) receiving 3+ months of in‐home care for chronic conditions/disabilities from the two home‐care programmes between September 2007 and May 2010 completed a researcher‐administered questionnaire at either baseline, 1 year or 2 years. Instruments included the Client's Partnering Experience, Health‐Promoting Partnering Effort, a modified version of Locus of Authority in Decision‐Making, the Medical Outcomes Survey Self‐Rated Health Scale, Health and Social Services Utilization and a modified Functional Independence Measure. Analysis of covariance revealed that the use of the concrete discussion guide to promote organisation‐wide application of a partnering approach achieved significantly greater client partnering experience and health‐promoting partnering effort over time than did the usual approach to in‐home‐care interactions. Using the discussion guide enhanced client/provider partnering, hence, interdependence, contributing positively to promoting clients' health as a resource for everyday living.</p> </abstract>