To read this content please select one of the options below:

Person-centred rhetoric in chronic care: a review of health policies

Agnieszka Sobolewska (Central Queensland University - Brisbane Campus, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia)
Amy-Louise Byrne (School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia)
Clare Lynette Harvey (School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University - Townsville Campus, Mackay, Queensland, Australia)
Eileen Willis (School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University - Townsville Campus, Mackay, Queensland, Australia)
Adele Baldwin (School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University - Townsville Campus, Mackay, Queensland, Australia)
Sandy McLellan (School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University - Mackay Campus, Mackay, Queensland, Australia)
David Heard (School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia)

Journal of Health Organization and Management

ISSN: 1477-7266

Article publication date: 6 February 2020

Issue publication date: 2 April 2020

1174

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to explore how the national, state and organisational health policies in Australia support the implementation of person-centred care in managing chronic care conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative content analysis was performed regarding the national, state and organisational Queensland Health policies using Elo and Kyngas' (2008) framework.

Findings

Although the person-centred care as an approach is well articulated in health policies, there is still no definitive measure or approach to embedding it into operational services. Complex funding structures and competing priorities of the governments and the health organisations carry the risk that person-centred care as an approach gets lost in translation. Three themes emerged: the patient versus the government; health care delivery versus the political agenda; and health care organisational processes versus the patient.

Research limitations/implications

Given that person-centred care is the recommended approach for responding to chronic health conditions, further empirical research is required to evaluate how programs designed to deliver person-centred care achieve that objective in practice.

Practical implications

This research highlights the complex environment in which the person-centred approach is implemented. Short-term programmes created specifically to focus on person-centred care require the right organisational infrastructure, support and direction. This review demonstrates the need for alignment of policies related to chronic disease management at the broader organisational level.

Originality/value

Given the introduction of the nurse navigator program to take up a person-centred care approach, the review of the recent policies was undertaken to understand how they support this initiative.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This project is funded by Queensland Health, Office of the Chief Nurse and Midwife. This research is not subject to results-dependant funding or veto of publication by the sponsor.

Citation

Sobolewska, A., Byrne, A.-L., Harvey, C.L., Willis, E., Baldwin, A., McLellan, S. and Heard, D. (2020), "Person-centred rhetoric in chronic care: a review of health policies", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 34 No. 2, pp. 123-143. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-04-2019-0078

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles