Benefits and Challenges of Nursing in Multifunctional Long-Term Care in a Small Group Home And Home-Visit Nursing, and Ideas for Nursing: An Analysis of Nurses' Perceptions / 日本プライマリ・ケア連合学会誌

ABSTRACT

Introduction: In Japan, multifunctional long-term care in small group homes and home-visit nursing (MLSH) was created for elderly people who continue to live in the community as one of the long-term care insurance services. The aim of this study was to clarify the benefits and challenges of, and ideas for nursing in MLSH.Methods: A semi-structured interview survey was administered to 11 nurses carrying out MLSH in the Kansai region, and the responses were analyzed qualitatively and descriptively.Results: The benefits of nursing were divided into five categories, including "nurses' expertise and ingenuity can be utilized" and "nursing can continue to support home life even in difficult cases." There were seven categories of challenges, including "difficult to judge, educate, and collaborate; this burdens nurses" and "difficult to educate and collaborate with care workers." There were six categories of nursing ideas, including "utilize knowledge and connections from study sessions, and external training at facilities" and "ensure that nurses and care workers can provide unified care." Conclusion: Although nurses considered it an advantage to support patients' home-based life in cooperation with patients' family members using professional originality, it was difficult for them to judge, learn, and collaborate with others. Moreover, nurses faced burdens. Strategies must be developed to provide nurses with training inside and outside of the facility, and also to strengthen connections with external resources. It is necessary to further review the system and disseminate knowledge about MLSH.