Wheeler Mikaela, Abbey Karen L, Capra Sandra M
Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia.
Faculty of Health and Behavioural Science, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
Nutr Diet. 2025 Jun;82(3):327-336. doi: 10.1111/1747-0080.70002. Epub 2025 Feb 25.
This qualitative study aimed to explore residents' experiences of autonomy in relation to their meals pre and post-intervention, which implemented a restaurant-style dining service and increased the number of meal choices available in one residential aged care home.
Participants completed semi-structured interviews pre- and post-intervention. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Adopting an interpretivist approach, the researchers prioritised participants' subjective experiences and engaged collaboratively in reflexive practices to examine their positionality while developing themes.
Twenty participants completed pre-interviews and eighteen completed post-interviews. Themes developed from pre-intervention interviews included 'Autonomy in residential aged care homes: Ideal versus reality', 'Values and expectations of residential aged care' and 'Disempowerment within residential aged care systems'. Themes from post intervention interviews included 'Reclaiming Autonomy' 'System design to support autonomy and Autonomy beyond meal choice'.
Residents in residential aged care encounter institutional factors that undermine their sense of autonomy. However, foodservice systems have the potential to enhance choice and autonomy and positively impact residents.
本定性研究旨在探讨在一家老年护理院中实施餐厅式餐饮服务并增加餐食选择数量后，居民在干预前后用餐方面的自主体验。
参与者在干预前后完成了半结构化访谈。访谈内容经转录后采用反思性主题分析法进行分析。研究人员采用解释主义方法，优先考虑参与者的主观体验，并在形成主题时共同参与反思性实践，以审视自身的立场。
20名参与者完成了干预前访谈，18名完成了干预后访谈。干预前访谈形成的主题包括“老年护理院中的自主性：理想与现实”、“老年护理的价值观和期望”以及“老年护理系统中的权力剥夺”。干预后访谈的主题包括“重拾自主性”、“支持自主性的系统设计”以及“用餐选择之外的自主性”。
老年护理院的居民面临着削弱其自主感的制度因素。然而，餐饮服务系统有潜力增加选择和自主性，并对居民产生积极影响。
