The needs for medical visit accompaniment services among older patients with chronic diseases and their family members: a qualitative study

ObjectiveTo explore the specific needs of older patients with chronic diseases and their family members for medical visit accompaniment services in outpatient settings.MethodsThe interview outline was developed based on the theory of existence, relatedness, and growth needs. Semi-structured in-depth...

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Main Authors: Yu-Han Chen, Jia-Ying Zhu, Qin-Ying Fu, Xin-Ye Yu, Chang-Hong Wu, De-Qin Huang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1577329/full
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author Yu-Han Chen
Jia-Ying Zhu
Qin-Ying Fu
Xin-Ye Yu
Chang-Hong Wu
De-Qin Huang
author_facet Yu-Han Chen
Jia-Ying Zhu
Qin-Ying Fu
Xin-Ye Yu
Chang-Hong Wu
De-Qin Huang
author_sort Yu-Han Chen
collection DOAJ
description ObjectiveTo explore the specific needs of older patients with chronic diseases and their family members for medical visit accompaniment services in outpatient settings.MethodsThe interview outline was developed based on the theory of existence, relatedness, and growth needs. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with older patients and their family members. Directed content analysis was used to analyze the interview data. This study followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines to report the study.ResultsNineteen older patients with chronic diseases and 17 family members, were interviewed in the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in Hangzhou from July to August 2024. Four themes emerged with ten sub-themes: (1) existence needs (basic services, security, and the qualifications of medical visit accompaniment providers), (2) relatedness needs (relationships with medical visit accompaniment providers and emotional support), (3) growth needs (willingness to learn and learning contents), and (4) the need for optimizing service provision (improving the efficiency of medical visits, ensuring transparency of the visit, and delivering personalized services).ConclusionThe needs of older patients with chronic diseases for medical visit accompaniment services included existence needs, relationship needs, growth needs, and the need for optimizing service provision. The government and institutions providing medical visit accompaniment services should conduct qualification assessment, enhance personnel management, and improve the services as to effectively promote the medical experience and healthy ageing of older patients.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2296-2565
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publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-c25b2d81c7b641e89bf3f7e61ccec0622025-08-20T03:53:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-05-011310.3389/fpubh.2025.15773291577329The needs for medical visit accompaniment services among older patients with chronic diseases and their family members: a qualitative studyYu-Han Chen0Jia-Ying Zhu1Qin-Ying Fu2Xin-Ye Yu3Chang-Hong Wu4De-Qin Huang5School of Public Health and Nursing, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, ChinaSchool of Public Health and Nursing, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, ChinaSchool of Public Health and Nursing, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, ChinaSchool of Public Health and Nursing, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, ChinaAlibaba Business School, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, ChinaSchool of Public Health and Nursing, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, ChinaObjectiveTo explore the specific needs of older patients with chronic diseases and their family members for medical visit accompaniment services in outpatient settings.MethodsThe interview outline was developed based on the theory of existence, relatedness, and growth needs. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with older patients and their family members. Directed content analysis was used to analyze the interview data. This study followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines to report the study.ResultsNineteen older patients with chronic diseases and 17 family members, were interviewed in the outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in Hangzhou from July to August 2024. Four themes emerged with ten sub-themes: (1) existence needs (basic services, security, and the qualifications of medical visit accompaniment providers), (2) relatedness needs (relationships with medical visit accompaniment providers and emotional support), (3) growth needs (willingness to learn and learning contents), and (4) the need for optimizing service provision (improving the efficiency of medical visits, ensuring transparency of the visit, and delivering personalized services).ConclusionThe needs of older patients with chronic diseases for medical visit accompaniment services included existence needs, relationship needs, growth needs, and the need for optimizing service provision. The government and institutions providing medical visit accompaniment services should conduct qualification assessment, enhance personnel management, and improve the services as to effectively promote the medical experience and healthy ageing of older patients.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1577329/fulloutpatientolder patientschronic diseasesmedical visit accompanimentneedsqualitative study
spellingShingle Yu-Han Chen
Jia-Ying Zhu
Qin-Ying Fu
Xin-Ye Yu
Chang-Hong Wu
De-Qin Huang
The needs for medical visit accompaniment services among older patients with chronic diseases and their family members: a qualitative study
Frontiers in Public Health
outpatient
older patients
chronic diseases
medical visit accompaniment
needs
qualitative study
title The needs for medical visit accompaniment services among older patients with chronic diseases and their family members: a qualitative study
title_full The needs for medical visit accompaniment services among older patients with chronic diseases and their family members: a qualitative study
title_fullStr The needs for medical visit accompaniment services among older patients with chronic diseases and their family members: a qualitative study
title_full_unstemmed The needs for medical visit accompaniment services among older patients with chronic diseases and their family members: a qualitative study
title_short The needs for medical visit accompaniment services among older patients with chronic diseases and their family members: a qualitative study
title_sort needs for medical visit accompaniment services among older patients with chronic diseases and their family members a qualitative study
topic outpatient
older patients
chronic diseases
medical visit accompaniment
needs
qualitative study
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1577329/full
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