Improving the Quality of Healthy Aging Care: A Participatory Action Research

Abstract

Background: The elderly health care services provided in public health centers neglect the care and education of the healthy elderly. Aim: This qualitative study aimed to improve the quality of public health services for the healthy elderly. Method: This participatory action research was conducted on 11 health care workers, 54 elderly participants, and 54 family members in Motahhari Comprehensive Health Services Center of Mashhad, Iran, within 2016-2019. Data collection tools were the SERVQUAL questionnaire, interview, focus group discussion, and field note-taking. After the identification of the problems through interviews with participants, the sessions of focus group discussions were held to design the program. After executing the change programs, evaluations were repeated to compare pre-change and post-change situations. Qualitative content analysis was performed using the reality description method, and quantitative content analysis was conducted by descriptive statistics and paired t-test. Results: The mean values of age and work experience of the health care workers were reported as 32.4±2.7 and 8.1±1.7 years, respectively. Using the developed care files, the non-specialist routine care was transformed into standardized organized care based on the needs of the healthy elderly. In the pre-intervention phase, the mean scores of service quality from the perspective of the elderly participants and their families were 63.0±9.4 and 61.8±9.0, respectively. In the post-intervention phase, the aforementioned figures statistically increased (P=0.001) to 130.1±14.7 and 122.6±13.5, respectively. Implications for Practice: The quality of health care services for the healthy elderly improved by encouraging the participation of the elderly and their families in the care process. This approach can be used in other public health centers.