Table 2 Summary of phenomenological studies included in the meta-ethnography

Patients

Hvalvik et al. (2015) [22]

The transition from hospital to home: older people’s experiences

The study aimed to describe and illuminate the lived experiences of older home residents with continuing care needs during the transition from hospital to home

Informants: Seven patients aged 67 years or more

(between 70 and 80 years)

(2 m / 5 f)

Country: Norway

Individual narrative interviews

Phenomenological-hermeneutic approach (Lindseth et al. 2014; Ricoeur 1976)

Two themes/four subthemes:

Relating to different systems of care

- Feeling disregarded

- Being humble

Adapting to life conditions

- Being vulnerable

- Coping with alterations

“I could never have managed without my daughter. She has visited me every day after I returned home from hospital!”

Lilleheile et al. (2020) [23]

A qualitative study of old patients’ experiences of the quality of the health services in hospital and 30 days after hospitalization

The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of older patients (80 years and above) in hospital and shortly after hospitalisation

Informants: Eighteen patients

(82–100 years)

(3 m / 15 f)

Country: Norway

Semi-structured interviews

Thematic analyses with a phenomenological perspective (Braun and Clarke 2006)

Five themes:

- Hospital stay and the person behind the diagnosis

- Poor communication and coordination

- Life after discharge

- Relationships with next of kin

- Organizational and systematic determinants

“So I thought maybe I should have some papers with me? I didn’t receive any information about anything. I found that strange too. I knew I was going home, but there was no information about any possible consequences of my disease, if there was something I should think about when I came back home, for instance, what to eat, and how to take medication and stuff. Nothing at all.”

Perry et al. (2011) [24]

“If I didn’t have anybody, what would I have done?”: Experiences of older adults and their discharge home after lower limb orthopaedic surgery

The study explored the perceptions of older patients who returned home after lower limb orthopaedic surgery

Informants: Eleven patients

(66–88 years)

(3 m / 8 f)

Country: New Zealand

Semi-structured interviews

Interpretative phenomenological analysis (Smith et al. 2009)

Three themes:

- Lack of a shared decision on when to go home

- Dependent on family to go home and to feel confident there

- Trial and error rehabilitation

“If I didn’t have anybody, what would I have done?”

Relatives

Hvalvik et al. (2015) [25]

Striving to maintain a dignified life for the patient in transition: next of kin’s experiences during the transition process of an older person in transition from hospital to home

This study aimed to examine the next of kin’s lived experiences during the hospital-home transition of an older person with ongoing care needs

Informants: Eleven next-of-kin of an older patient (age 67 and older)

Country: Norway

Interviews; Phenomenological hermeneutic design (Lindseth et al. 2004, Ricoeur 1976)

Two themes/four subthemes:

Balancing vulnerability and strength

- Enduring emotional stress and frustrations

- striving to maintain security and continuity

Coping with an altered everyday life

- Dealing with changes

- Being in readiness

“I have to visit my father daily, so I have to adjust my own routines.”

“Our family had its own shift system during the first period after mum returned home, as she was anxious all the time.”

Mora-López et al. (2016) [26]

Analysis of the transition process among family caregivers in a hospital in the region of Catalonia in Spain

The aim of the study was to examine the experience of family caregivers who play a major role in the hospitalisation, transition process and patient care at home

Informants: Six family caregivers (48–78 years) (1 m / 5 f)

Country: Catalonia, Spain

In-depth interviews; Phenomenological approach as well as Glasers and Strauss constant comparative method (Wimpenny 2000, Giorgi 2006, Medina Moya 2005)

Seven themes:

- Cultural beliefs and attitudes

- Religious beliefs

- Meaning of ‘take care’

- Training and knowledge

- Socio-economic status

- Community

- Society

“At first I had to give up work, I asked for a leave of absence and I had to give it up, because I think she comes first now.”

Nahm et al. (2010) [27]

Exploration of Informal Caregiving Following Hip Fracture

The aim of the study was to explore the experiences and needs of informal caregivers of hip fracture patients

Informants: Ten informal caregivers

(49–86 years)

(care recipients 80–93 years)

(1 m / 9 f)

Country: United States

In-depth interviews; Descriptive and hermeneutic phenomenological approach (Van Manen 1990, Barritt 1985)

Five themes/two phases:

Caregiving Experience Consistent across different phases

- Hip fracture as a turning point toward a frailer state

- Feeling tired and having experienced a lack of sleep due to demanding care-giving activities

- Being frustrated with the lack of communication from the health care providers and communication loopholes during transition of care

- Lack of information about care-giving activities

- Specific resource needs

Phase-specific caregiving experiences

“Um, very stressful. Um, it was just trying to juggle everything. You know, work, making sure things were taken care of with his household, my household, visiting him every day.”

Norlyk et al. (2013) [28]

The extended arm of health professionals. Relatives’ experiences of patient’s recovery in a fast-track programme

This study examined the lived experiences of being a close relative to a colon cancer patient

Informants: Twelve relatives

(45–75 years)

(3 m / 9 f)

Country: Denmark

In-depth interviews; Descriptive phenomenological approach, Reflective Lifeworld Research (Dahlberg et al. 2008)

Four themes:

- The extended arm of the professionals

- Alertness directed at the physical restoration of the patient

- Organization of a healing environment

- Existential pressure

“For me, it has not really been all that difficult because there were these guidelines you were supposed to follow. Those guidelines helped us on the way and we’ve done everything by the book … we really have.”

Plank A. et al. (2012) [29]

Becoming a caregiver: new family carers’ experience during the transition from hospital to home

To investigate the experiences of hospital-home transitions of new informal caregivers

Informants: Eight were interviewed individually, ten of them were part of a focus group

(32–80 years)

(3 m / 15 f)

Care receivers (46–86 years) (12 m / 6 f)

Country: Italy

In-depth and focus group interview Phenomenological approach (Colaizzi 1978, Giorgi & Giorgi 2003, Mortari 2008)

Core concept:

- Being responsible for everything

Three themes:

- Reflections on the newly acquired role as family caregiver

- Reflections on the recipient’s condition

- Reflections on the support required to carry out the role of carer

“He is a fighter. Maybe it’s because of this that I feel more comfortable than others. Because of his strength of will! And this is an important benefit for me.”

Patients and relatives

Jensen et al. (2017) [30]

“If only I had known”: a qualitative study investigating a treatment of patients with a hip fracture with short time stay in hospital

The study aimed to describe the experiences of hip fracture patients with regard to self-care after short time stay in hospital

Informants: amongst others ten patients

(67–92 years)

(2 m / 8 f) and four relatives (2 m / 2 f)

Country: Denmark

Interviews

Observations

Descriptive phenomenological approach, Reflective Lifeworld Research (Dahlberg 2010, Dahlberg et al. 2008, Kvale 1996)

Field observations within wards (Spradley, 1980)

Two categories/six themes:

Patient perspectives of the pathway:

- Preconceived notions

- Importance of autonomy

- Master in my own house

- Will and zest for life

Self-care and empowerment:

- Preparing for discharge

- Cross sectional collaboration

“The first week after I came home I actually got better every day.”

Petersen et al. (2021) [31]

A challenging journey, the experience of elderly patients and their close family members after major emergency abdominal surgery

The study investigated the experience of patients and their caregivers with regard to major emergency abdominal surgery during hospitalisation and in the first month after discharge

Informants: Fifteen patients

(70–90 years)

(6 m / 9 f) and twenty of their family members

(8 m / 12 f)

Country: Denmark

Semi-structured interviews Phenomenological approach (Giorgi 2009)

Three themes:

- Being emotionally overwhelmed

- Wanting to be cared for

- Finding a way back to life

“I’m sick of being stuck in my apartment on the second floor – walking from the bedroom to the kitchen. That’s how my days go by. I’m sick of it … really. But I can’t do anything else.”