Putting patients first: when home-based care staff prioritise loyalty to patients above the system and themselves. An ethnographic study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The growing number of older people worldwide poses challenges for health policy, particularly in the Global North, where policymakers increasingly expect seniors to live and receive care at home. However, healthcare professionals, particularly in home-based care, face dilemmas between adhering to care ideals and meeting external demands. Although they strive to uphold ethical care standards, they must deal with patients' needs, cooperation with colleagues and management guidelines. Home-based care is an essential part of healthcare services in Norway, but staff struggle with high patient numbers and time management. This article focuses on how staff deal with ethical challenges related to contextual and organisational constraints.

Methods

An ethnographic fieldwork

SUBMITTER: Hertzberg CK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11389381 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature