Abstract

Background There is little evidence documenting the attitudes, experiences, and behavioural factors of high-risk patients who are associated with avoiding hospital.

Aim To explore the health, healthcare management, and behavioural factors that contribute to enabling high-risk patients to avoid unplanned hospital admissions.

Design and setting This was an in-depth qualitative, primary care, interview study with patients who were registered on the Northumberland High Risk Patient Programme (NHRPP) in Northumberland, UK.

Method There were 30 participants in this study, of who 21 were high-risk patients and nine were carers, spouses, or relatives. A grounded-theory approach was used to explore themes that emerged from the semi-structured interviews.

Results Participants described physical enablers that helped them to avoid hospital including medication, living aids, and resting; however, the benefit of these may be challenged by patient decision making. The strategies that patients used to cope with their health conditions included acceptance, positive reinterpretation, and growth. Participants felt that support networks of family and friends helped them to avoid hospital, although the strain on the spouse should be considered. The majority of patients described having trust and confidence in their healthcare providers, and continuity of care was important to patients.

Conclusion Reinforcing the importance of the physical enablers, as well as support networks to patients, carers, and healthcare providers, could help patients to avoid hospital. Highlighting the coping strategies that patients use may help patients to manage their health, while promoting continuity of care will also contribute to helping high-risk patients to avoid unplanned hospital admissions