Barriers and facilitators for General Practice Nurses implementing a social connectedness intervention for older people.
Tracks
Ballroom 3
Implementation
Loneliness
Models of Care
Social Isolation
Wellness / Well Being
| Wednesday, November 13, 2024 |
| 2:30 PM - 2:45 PM |
Speaker
Ms Cristina Thompson
PhD candidate
University of Wollongong
Barriers and facilitators for General Practice Nurses implementing a social connectedness intervention for older people.
Abstract
Background
Older adults may experience diminished social connections leading to loneliness and social isolation adversely impacting their health and wellbeing. General practice provides a promising intervention setting; however, there is limited understanding of how General Practice Nurses (GPNs) can improve the social connectedness of older people.
Aim
This study explored the experiences of GPN ‘health connectors’ implementing a novel general practice-based pilot intervention to support lonely and socially isolated older people.
Methods
The qualitative component of a mixed-methods study is reported. A purposive sample of eight GPNs from five general practices north-west of Sydney, Australia, participated in semi-structured interviews about implementation experiences and intervention sustainability. Interviews were conducted at two time points 12 months apart, with two focus groups completed during implementation. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The COM-B model informed identification of implementation barriers and facilitators and behaviour change findings relating to GPN capability, opportunity, and motivation.
Results
Three principal themes were identified: the experiences of the GPN health connectors, barriers to practice implementation, and factors facilitating implementation. GPNs identified positive experiences from project participation, such as the development of new skills and extension of their professional network. Older peoples’ feelings about their life-stage and transport inaccessibility were key barriers to participation. GPNs facilitated social connections for older participants, drawing on community assets.
Conclusions
GPNs want to assist lonely and socially isolated older people. Further research is needed to build the capacity of GPNs and integrate sustainable interventions for this population within the general practice setting.
Older adults may experience diminished social connections leading to loneliness and social isolation adversely impacting their health and wellbeing. General practice provides a promising intervention setting; however, there is limited understanding of how General Practice Nurses (GPNs) can improve the social connectedness of older people.
Aim
This study explored the experiences of GPN ‘health connectors’ implementing a novel general practice-based pilot intervention to support lonely and socially isolated older people.
Methods
The qualitative component of a mixed-methods study is reported. A purposive sample of eight GPNs from five general practices north-west of Sydney, Australia, participated in semi-structured interviews about implementation experiences and intervention sustainability. Interviews were conducted at two time points 12 months apart, with two focus groups completed during implementation. Transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The COM-B model informed identification of implementation barriers and facilitators and behaviour change findings relating to GPN capability, opportunity, and motivation.
Results
Three principal themes were identified: the experiences of the GPN health connectors, barriers to practice implementation, and factors facilitating implementation. GPNs identified positive experiences from project participation, such as the development of new skills and extension of their professional network. Older peoples’ feelings about their life-stage and transport inaccessibility were key barriers to participation. GPNs facilitated social connections for older participants, drawing on community assets.
Conclusions
GPNs want to assist lonely and socially isolated older people. Further research is needed to build the capacity of GPNs and integrate sustainable interventions for this population within the general practice setting.
Biography
Cristina Thompson is a PhD candidate in the School of Nursing, University of Wollongong (UOW), investigating loneliness and social isolation in older people and the contribution of primary care in addressing this issue. Prior to this, Cristina spent several years in the health system as a clinician and senior manager, in both rural and metropolitan health settings. She has also worked as a health service researcher within the former Centre for Health Service Development (UOW) supporting mixed methods research projects in the areas of health and social policy evaluation, strategic health service development and planning. Cristina has worked on multiple large-scale evaluation projects, with various state and territory health departments, Australian Government departments and agencies, and non-government organisations, most recently in improving social connectedness for older Australians. Cristina has a long-standing interest in the practical application of health services research and using evidence to influence policy reform.
Session Chair
Sze-Ee Soh
Senior Lecturer
Monash University
