https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7471-7739
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ABSTRACT
Purpose
The study aimed to describe primary health care professionals lived experiences of supporting recovery in persons with stress-related disorders.
Methods
This study was based on a phenomenological approach known as reflective lifeworld research (RLR). Seventeen health care professionals working in primary health care were included in the study. Lifeworld interviews were conducted to collect data. The data were analysed in accordance with the phenomenological RLR principles of openness, flexibility and bridling.
Results
Health care professionals experienced supporting recovery as a complex process with a need for a tailored approach, regardless of profession. In an alliance, the health care professionals encounter the persons where they are based on their own narratives about their life situation. In an interpersonal platform, the health care professionals use a lingering and flexible approach. Support is provided by encouraging existential reflection and learning as well as guiding the person to consider their own needs. This supports the person’s quest for a sustainable recovery process in his/her life situation.
Conclusions
We conclude that supporting recovery requires a genuinely person-centred care in which elements of existential care are crucial. Primary health care for persons with stress-related disorders could benefit from the development of additional research and models for such an approach.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank all participants in the study and the Swedish Association of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nurses for financial contribution via scholarship for travel during data collection.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Markus Sjösten
Markus Sjösten (RN, RPN, PhD candidate) is a part-time doctoral student and registered specialist nurse in psychiatric and mental health nursing. He works clinically at Wämö primary health care centre. His field of research is Caring Sciences with a focus on lived experiences of stress-related disorders in primary health care.
Ulrica Hörberg
Ulrica Hörberg (RN, RPN, PhD) is a professor in Caring Science at Linnaeus University, Sweden, where she leads the research group Lifeworld-led Health, Caring and Learning (HCL) and is director of studies for the Caring Sciences PhD programme. Her research explores psychiatric and forensic psychiatric caring, in addition to caring and learning in educational and health care contexts.
Cecilia Fagerström
Cecilia Fagerström (RN, PhD) is director of science of Region Kalmar County and clinical professor in Caring Science at Linnaeus University, Sweden, as well as being co-leader of the ReAction research group. Fagerström has a degree in social care focused on elderly care and management. She has experience with qualitative and quantitative research designs, service and participatory designs to increase decision-support evidence, as well as eHealth solutions for wound management in home health care.
Hanna Tuvesson
Hanna Tuvesson (RN, RPN, PhD) is a registered specialist nurse in psychiatric and mental health nursing and associate professor in caring science. She is a researcher and senior lecturer at the Department of Health and Caring Sciences at Linnaeus University, Sweden. Her research areas include qualitative and quantitative studies of work environment and stress and care related to mental health problems. The research includes participatory designs and close collaboration with stakeholders.