Staff experiences of person-centred care and quality of life in nursing homes as influenced by leadership and work situation: a qualitative study.
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, SE-901 87, Sweden. [email protected].
- 2Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
- 3Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Sunderby Research Unit, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
- 4Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Umeå, SE-901 87, Sweden.
Abstract
Background
PCC is widely recognised as an important approach to supporting QoL in nursing homes. However, staff's ability to provide PCC may be influenced by leadership and working conditions. There is still limited knowledge of how staff themselves experience performing PCC to support residents' QoL in everyday nursing home care. The aim of this study was to explore staff experiences of providing PCC to support resident QoL and how their provision of PCC is influenced by leadership and staff working conditions.Methods
A qualitative study design was used. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 enrolled nurses and five nursing assistants working in nursing homes in four Swedish municipalities between February and May 2024. Data were analysed using qualitative conventional content analysis.Results
An overarching theme, Creating everyday meaning despite challenges, was supported by three categories: Building human relationships in care, Connecting through communication and teamwork, and Overcoming obstacles for person-centred care. Meaningful relationships, attentiveness and tailored support were described as central to providing PCC and supporting residents' QoL. Communication and teamwork enabled staff to understand and respond to residents' individual needs, while leadership contributed by supporting staff and facilitating teamwork. Organisational barriers, including staffing shortages, time pressure, communication difficulties and limited leadership support, constrained staff members' ability to consistently provide PCC and support residents' QoL.Conclusions
Staff described a strong intrinsic commitment to providing PCC that supports residents' QoL. However, their ability to do so was shaped by leadership and organisational conditions. Enabling PCC in nursing homes therefore requires not only staff commitment, but also supportive leadership, adequate staffing and work environments that allow time, communication and continuity in care.Clinical trial number
Not applicable.
Related
- Anxiety in patients with lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis: a patient-centred sequential explanatory mixed-methods study of prevalence, associated factors, and patient experiences
- Emotional intelligence in health sciences education: a qualitative study of student success and leadership development.
- The lived experiences of sexual and gender minority individuals in Guyana: a qualitative investigation into well-being
- From anticipatory fear to relational trust: women's experiences of gynecological examination in Turkey: a qualitative study
- Older adults’ experiences of adapting to changes after colorectal cancer surgery in Sweden: a qualitative study
BibTeX
@article{eldskott2026staff,
title = {{Staff experiences of person-centred care and quality of life in nursing homes as influenced by leadership and work situation: a qualitative study.}},
author = {Håkan Eldskott and Marie Lindkvist and Johan Niklasson and Annica Backman},
journal = {BMC geriatrics},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1186/s12877-026-08594-1},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42963739},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Staff experiences of person-centred care and quality of life in nursing homes as influenced by leadership and work situation: a qualitative study.
AU - Håkan Eldskott
AU - Marie Lindkvist
AU - Johan Niklasson
AU - Annica Backman
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - BMC geriatrics
DO - 10.1186/s12877-026-08594-1
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42963739
AB - Background PCC is widely recognised as an important approach to supporting QoL in nursing homes. However, staff's ability to provide PCC may be influenced by leadership and working conditions. There is still limited knowledge of how staff themselves experience performing PCC to support residents' QoL in everyday nursing home care. The aim of this study was to explore staff experiences of providing PCC to support resident QoL and how their provision of PCC is influenced by leadership and staff working conditions.Methods A qualitative study design was used. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 enrolled nurses and five nursing assistants working in nursing homes in four Swedish municipalities between February and May 2024. Data were analysed using qualitative conventional content analysis.Results An overarching theme, Creating everyday meaning despite challenges, was supported by three categories: Building human relationships in care, Connecting through communication and teamwork, and Overcoming obstacles for person-centred care. Meaningful relationships, attentiveness and tailored support were described as central to providing PCC and supporting residents' QoL. Communication and teamwork enabled staff to understand and respond to residents' individual needs, while leadership contributed by supporting staff and facilitating teamwork. Organisational barriers, including staffing shortages, time pressure, communication difficulties and limited leadership support, constrained staff members' ability to consistently provide PCC and support residents' QoL.Conclusions Staff described a strong intrinsic commitment to providing PCC that supports residents' QoL. However, their ability to do so was shaped by leadership and organisational conditions. Enabling PCC in nursing homes therefore requires not only staff commitment, but also supportive leadership, adequate staffing and work environments that allow time, communication and continuity in care.Clinical trial number Not applicable.
SN - 1471-2318
ER -