Self-care in the older adult population with chronic disease: concept analysis

PURPOSE: Chronic disease care is considered a challenging dilemma for health organizations’ sustainability and patient health. Self-care is key to chronic disease management and is substantially important in all aspects of health and levels of care. In the past years, research regarding self-care in the context of chronic disease has evolved, yet this complex concept continues to be ambiguous as there are differences in the way self-care is clearly conceptualized in the literature. A discussion of an in-depth concept analysis of self-care in the older adult population with chronic disease and an outline of its defining common attributes, referents, antecedents, consequences, and related concepts. DESIGN: Qualitative concept analysis concerning the concept of self-care in the older adult population with chronic disease. METHODS: An extensive review of the literature concerning the concept of self-care in the older adult population with chronic disease was conducted using different databases. Literature from nursing and other disciplines was selected to differentiate this concept from other related concepts. Rodgers's evolutionary methodology of concept analysis was used to investigate the concept of self-care in detail to better understand its meanings in the context of chronic disease. RESULTS: Multiple definitions of self-care exist, and a consensus definition was not shown to have been achieved across disciplines. The common attributes, referents, antecedents, consequences, and related concepts were identified, and a model case was constructed by the authors to clarify the concept of self-care in the context of the older adult population living with chronic disease. This concept analysis provides a theoretical definition of self-care of the older adult population living with chronic disease to offer nurses and others insight into the concept, which will ultimately provide a foundation for further research needed in the areas of clinical practice, policy, and education. Identification of the core of the self-care concept affords professionals and researchers the ability to identify appropriate practice priorities, enhance current practices, and develop theories and guidelines regarding self-care, leading to improvements in patient care and outcomes.