Personal care assistants' experiences of caring for people on home mechanical ventilation

• DOI: 10.1111/scs.12326
• Publication Date: 2016-04-30T13:27:35Z
• Authors: Åsa Israelsson‐Sk...; Berit Lindahl
• Keywords: Personal care; Respite care

Aim The aim of this study was to describe personal care assistants' ( PCA ) experiences working with a ventilator‐assisted person at home. Methods Data were collected from fifteen audiotaped semistructured interviews PCAs supporting child or adult using home mechanical ventilation (HMV). Thirteen women and two men participated; their experience HMV users ranged one 17 years (median 6 years). subjected qualitative content analysis in an inductive interpretive manner. Findings Five categories emerged the data: Being part complex work situation; Taking on multidimensional responsibility; Caring carried out someone's home; Creating boundaries environment indistinct limits; close another's body soul. Conclusions participants felt very they worked with, both physically emotionally. They had great responsibility therefore commensurate need for support, guidance well‐functioning organisation around user. There is international consensus that advanced will continue expand assistance key development. We suggest way move forward create multiprofessional teams led by key‐person who coordinates individual needs. More research needed within area broad perspective including HMV‐assisted persons, relatives, assistants management organisations.