Department of Nursing, Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Unitec New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand.
J Adv Nurs. 2012 Jan;68(1):181-90. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05830.x. Epub 2011 Sep 8.
This paper reports on a study that explored experiences of women (65-74 years) as they grow older while living with a long-term condition. The phenomenon of focus was 'ageing with a long-term condition', rather than the experience of developing a long-term condition after reaching older adulthood.
People with long-term conditions are living into older age. There is limited literature on the nexus of ageing with a long-term condition. It is known that ageing shapes and is shaped by women's experiences of living with a long-term condition.
In this interpretive descriptive study, nine women participated in a series of three focus groups held in 2007 and 2008. Transcripts were analysed thematically and participants given the opportunity to respond to the analysis.
'In the shadow of ageing' was the overarching theme. The women reported that although their long-term condition remained the referent point in their daily lives, for others including health professionals, the focus was on their appearance and the effects of older age. To overcome the back-grounding of their long-term condition, the women used 'strategies already-in-place'; it became 'just another thing to deal with'. Ageing, however, remained 'a privilege'.
If health professionals focus on age and its concomitant effects, rather than a woman's long-term condition, they are at risk of delivering inappropriate care. They need to be prepared to advocate for the special needs of older women who live with a long-term condition and remain cognizant of the women's resourcefulness and expertise developed over time.
本文报告了一项研究，该研究探讨了患有长期疾病的女性（65-74 岁）随着年龄增长的体验。研究的重点是“患有长期疾病的老龄化”，而不是在进入老年后经历长期疾病的发展。
患有长期疾病的人正在进入老年。关于患有长期疾病的老龄化与长期疾病之间的关系的文献有限。已知老龄化塑造并受女性患有长期疾病的体验影响。
在这项解释性描述研究中，9 名女性参加了 2007 年和 2008 年举行的三次焦点小组。对转录本进行主题分析，并让参与者有机会对分析作出回应。
“在老龄化的阴影下”是一个总体主题。这些女性报告说，尽管她们的长期疾病仍然是日常生活中的参考点，但对于包括卫生专业人员在内的其他人来说，关注的是她们的外表和老年的影响。为了克服长期疾病的背景化，这些女性使用了“已经存在的策略”；这变成了“又一件需要处理的事情”。然而，老龄化仍然是“一种特权”。
如果卫生专业人员关注年龄及其伴随的影响，而不是女性的长期疾病，他们就有可能提供不适当的护理。他们需要准备好为患有长期疾病的老年女性的特殊需求辩护，并始终意识到女性随着时间的推移而发展的机智和专业知识。
