Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Aging Ment Health. 2012;16(3):391-402. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2011.628974. Epub 2012 Jan 31.
This article describes the theoretical foundation and methodology used in a study intended to increase knowledge concerning informal caregivers' resources to health (in salutogenesis; General Resistance Resources, GRRs). A detailed description of how the approach derived from salutogenic theory was used and how it permeated the entire study, from design to findings, is provided. How participation in the study was experienced is discussed and methodological improvements and implications suggested.
Using an explorative, mixed method design, data was collected through salutogenically guided interviews with 32 Swedish caregivers to older adults. A constant comparative method of analysis was used to identify caregiver-GRRs, content analysis was further used to describe how participation was experienced.
The methodology unraveled GRRs caregivers used to obtain positive experiences of caregiving, but also hindrances for such usage contributing to negative experiences. Mixed data made it possible to venture beyond actual findings to derive a synthesis describing the experienced, communal context of the population reliant on these GRRs; Caregivinghood. Participating in the salutogenic data-collection was found to be a reflective, mainly positive, empowering and enlightening experience.
The methodology was advantageous, even if time-consuming, as it in one study unravelled caregiver-GRRs and hindrances for their usage on individual, communal and contextual levels. It is suggested that the ability to describe Caregivinghood may be essential when developing health-promoting strategies for caregivers at individual, municipal and national levels. The methodology makes such a description possible and suggested methodological improvements may enhance its usability and adaptability to other populations.
本文描述了一项旨在增加关于非正式照顾者资源的知识的研究（在健康的整体适应源理论中，即一般抵抗资源，GRRs）的理论基础和方法。详细描述了如何使用源自健康的整体适应源理论的方法，以及它如何渗透到整个研究中，从设计到发现。讨论了参与研究的体验，并提出了方法学上的改进和启示。
采用探索性混合方法设计，通过对 32 名瑞典老年照顾者进行健康的整体适应源指导访谈，收集数据。采用恒定性比较方法分析来识别照顾者的 GRRs，进一步采用内容分析法来描述参与的体验。
该方法学揭示了照顾者用来获得积极的照顾体验的 GRRs，但也揭示了阻碍这些使用的因素，导致了负面的体验。混合数据使我们能够超越实际的发现，得出一个综合描述依赖这些 GRRs 的人群的经验、共同背景的综合描述；照顾者的身份。参与健康的整体适应源数据收集被发现是一个反思性的、主要是积极的、赋权和启发的体验。
该方法是有利的，即使耗时，因为它在一项研究中揭示了照顾者的 GRRs 及其在个人、社区和背景层面上使用的障碍。建议在个人、市政和国家层面上为照顾者制定促进健康的策略时，描述照顾者身份可能是必不可少的。该方法使这种描述成为可能，并提出了一些方法学上的改进，可能会提高其可用性和适应性，以适应其他人群。
