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The complexity of food for people with multiple long-term health conditions

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posted on 2023-02-22, 22:50 authored by Helen Francis, Jenny Carryer, Jillian WilkinsonJillian Wilkinson
ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION The prevalence of long-term health conditions (LTCs) continues to increase and it is normal for people to have several. Lifestyle is a core feature of the self-management support given to people with LTCs, yet it seems to fail to meet their needs. From a larger study exploring the experiences of this group, this paper reports on the role of food and mealtimes, and the effect of the nutritional advice on the lives of people with several LTCs. METHODS The experiences of 16 people with several advanced LTCs were explored using multiple qualitative case studies. Over an 18-month period, contact with participants included monthly conversations, two longer, semi-structured interviews and one interview with their primary care clinicians. The data were analysed inductively using thematic analysis. RESULTS There was profound social, psychological and cultural significance of food to the participants. These aspects of food were then described using the Whare Tapa Wha model of health. The approach to food and nutrition participants experienced in health care was closely associated with conventional weight management. They found this advice largely irrelevant and therefore ineffective. DISCUSSION The pressure people with several LTCs experience during clinical encounters has perverse effects on wellbeing and reinforces an overall sense of failure. This research challenges the assumption that all people have the will, agency and income to follow the advice they receive about nutrition and exercise. Considering people’s needs using the Whare Tapa Wha model of health offers clinicians a framework to re-conceptualise the core features of self-management support and provide realistic, compassionate care that will optimise the quality of life for people with multiple LTCs.

History

Preferred citation

Francis, H., Carryer, J. & Wilkinson, J. (2018). The complexity of food for people with multiple long-term health conditions. Journal of Primary Health Care, 10(3), 186-186. https://doi.org/10.1071/hc18020

Journal title

Journal of Primary Health Care

Volume

10

Issue

3

Publication date

2018-01-01

Pagination

186-186

Publisher

CSIRO Publishing

Publication status

Published

Contribution type

Article

Online publication date

2018-07-23

ISSN

1172-6156

eISSN

1172-6156

Language

en