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. 2023 Feb 13;20(4):3298.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph20043298.

Understanding Unmet Care Needs of Rural Older Adults with Chronic Health Conditions: A Qualitative Study

Dennis Asante  1 , Craig S McLachlan  2 , David Pickles  3 , Vivian Isaac  1   4
Affiliations

Understanding Unmet Care Needs of Rural Older Adults with Chronic Health Conditions: A Qualitative Study

Dennis Asante et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Rural populations experience poorer access to the necessary health services for chronic health conditions. Although studies of rural healthcare access continue to expand, most are based on quantitative data, yet normative views and lived experiences of rural adults might offer a better understanding of healthcare access and their specific unmet needs. This qualitative study sought the views of both rural-centric older people and healthcare professionals to understand health needs, barriers, and enablers of accessing health services, with a focus on chronic health condition(s).

Methods: Between April and July 2022, separate in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 older people (≥60 years) in a rural South Australian community. Additionally, focus group interviews were conducted with 15 healthcare professionals involved in providing health services to older adults. Transcripts were coded using the NVivo software and data were thematically analysed.

Results: Participants described a range of unmet care needs including chronic disease management, specialist care, psychological distress, and the need for formal care services. Four barriers to meeting care needs were identified: Workforce shortages, a lack of continuity of care, self-transportation, and long waiting times for appointments. Self-efficacy, social support, and positive provider attitudes emerged as crucial enabling factors of service use among rural ageing populations.

Discussion: Older adults confront four broad ranges of unmet needs: Chronic disease management care, specialist care, psychological care, and formal care. There are potential facilitators, such as self-efficacy, provider positive attitudes, and social support, that could be leveraged to improve healthcare services access for older adults.

Keywords: chronic disease; older adults; rural health services.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Unmet healthcare needs and factors of older adults’ health services use.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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