Abstract:

The rapid expansion of the ageing population is accompanied by an increasing prevalence of multimorbidity linked with a decline in quality of life, functional disturbances and reduction as well as increased frequency of hospital visits. Literature reveals that to have successful outcomes, self-management is encouraged. Self-management in this study is defined as, “taking personal responsibility to carry out those activities that promote and maintain self-health and well-being”. This study aims to uncover the unmet support needs for self-management in elderly patients with multimorbidity through this qualitative study that used the interpretive phenomenological design. It was carried out in the largest referral hospital, the University Teaching Hospitals - Adult Hospital, which was purposely sampled to give divergent perspectives from patients across the nation. Thirty (30) elderly patients 60 years of age and older with multimorbidity who were seeking treatment at the hospital during the study were purposefully selected to participate. Data was gathered using the in-depth interview guide in audio-recorded in-person interviews and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) which saw three superordinate themes encompassing the need for a responsive healthcare delivery system, a well-functioning socioeconomic system, and social support networks. These systems, working together or independently can help multimorbidity patients focus on self-management. This is the first study that has looked at the unmet support needs for self-management in elderly patients with multimorbidity, which can help this special group to reap the benefits of self-management.

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