Suprapto Suprapto, Sarifudin Andi Latif, Dewi Nurhanifah, Muh Yunus, Lumastari Ajeng Wijayanti

How is Quality in Homecare Services Created? A Qualitative Study of Health Professional Perspectives

Introduction

How is quality in homecare services created? a qualitative study of health professional perspectives. Qualitative study reveals how health professionals create quality homecare nursing services. Focus on nurse competency, communication, family involvement, and policy for optimal patient care.

Abstract

Nursing services in home healthcare are becoming increasingly important as the number of patients requiring long-term care and post-inpatient care increases. The standard of nursing care delivered at home is crucial for the well-being of both patients and their families. This study investigates how health professionals perceive the creation of quality nursing services in home healthcare. Methodology: This study uses a qualitative approach with an in-depth interview method. Ten health professionals, including nurses, doctors, and home health care managers, were selected as participants through purposive sampling. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis methods to identify relevant themes and subthemes. Results: The results show that the quality of nursing services at home is created through several key factors: competency and training of nurses, effective communication between health teams, involvement of families in care, availability of resources, and clear management and policy support. Nurse competence and training are considered the most crucial factors affecting service quality. In addition, good communication between healthcare professionals and patients' families is also regarded as essential to creating a holistic and patient-centered service. Conclusions: The quality of nursing services in home health care depends on various factors, including nurse competency, effective communication, and family involvement. Managerial support and supportive policies are also essential to ensure that nurses can deliver optimal care. This research provides valuable insight for developing training programs and policies to enhance the quality of home nursing services.

Review

This study addresses a timely and critical topic: the creation of quality nursing services within home healthcare, a sector experiencing significant growth and demand. Through a qualitative inquiry utilizing in-depth interviews with ten health professionals (nurses, doctors, and managers), the research effectively explores diverse perspectives on what constitutes and drives quality in this context. The thematic analysis revealed several interconnected factors: nurse competency and training, effective communication among the healthcare team, family involvement, resource availability, and robust management and policy support. Significantly, nurse competence and training were identified as the most crucial element, closely followed by the importance of communication for a holistic, patient-centered approach. The chosen qualitative methodology is well-suited to explore the nuanced perceptions of health professionals regarding complex service delivery. Including participants from various professional backgrounds (nurses, doctors, and managers) is a notable strength, offering a comprehensive and multi-faceted view of quality creation within homecare. While the sample size of ten participants is typical for in-depth qualitative research aiming for rich data, it naturally limits the generalizability of findings beyond the specific context from which the participants were drawn. Nevertheless, the study provides valuable foundational insights into the subjective experiences and professional understandings that underpin the delivery of high-quality home nursing care. The findings offer substantial practical implications for stakeholders involved in home healthcare provision. By identifying key factors such as nurse competency, communication, and managerial support, the study provides a clear roadmap for developing targeted interventions. Specifically, the research insights are highly relevant for designing enhanced training programs for nurses, fostering improved inter-professional communication strategies, and informing policy adjustments that better support homecare delivery. Future research could build upon these qualitative findings by exploring patient and family perspectives more deeply, or by conducting quantitative studies to validate the relative importance of these factors across broader populations and diverse healthcare systems.

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