Lupei Yan

West China Hospital, Sichuan University

Abstract Title:Increasing the accuracy: A constructivist grounded theory study on safe care model for older inpatients

Biography:

Research Interest: Background: Health care faced unprecedented challenge and increasing complexity, a safe care theory embedded within care science is vital for healthcare professionals to focus on geriatric care. Purpose: This study aimed to describe and explain the actions and interactions involved in the delivery of safe care for older inpatients from the perspective of healthcare professionals. Methods: Constructivist grounded theory framed exploration of care issues embedded in older adults. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 participants from fifteen clinical departments across eleven hospitals between November 2023 and September 2024. Theoretical sampling and constant comparative analysis, and memo writing were used to reach theoretical saturation. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist was used for reporting this study. Results: We developed a substantive theory to deliver safe care— “Increasing the accuracy,” including context, difficulty, process, and facilitator. The difficulty was the inability to control unsafe care incidents. Three conditions impacted the difficulty: aging characteristics, safety awareness, and care literacy. The process of holistic nursing emerged as the way participants dealt with the difficulty, involving four elements: timeliness, health education, communication and collaboration, and dignity care. Increasing the accuracy was considered as the facilitator to provide safe care. Conclusions: The substantive theory provides new insights into developing geriatric care models. Understanding the process of increasing the accuracy could direct healthcare professionals, educators, and policymakers to improve the safe delivery of geriatric care. Key words: safe care, older adults, healthcare professionals, patient safety, constructivist grounded theory