Physicians’ experiences and actions in making complex level-of-care decisions during acute situations within older patients’ homes: a critical incident study

Background Complex level-of-care decisions involve uncertainty in which decisions are beneficial for older patients. Knowledge of physicians’ decision-making during acute situations in older patients’ homes is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to describe physicians’ experiences and actions in making complex level-of-care decisions during the assessment of older patients in acute situations within their own homes. Methods Individual interviews and analyses were performed according to the critical incident technique (CIT). In total, 14 physicians from Sweden were included. Results In making complex level-of-care decisions, physicians experienced collaborating with and including older patients, significant others and health care professionals to be essential for making individualized decisions regarding the patients’ and their significant others’ needs. During decision-making, physicians experienced difficulties when doubt or collaborative obstructions occurred. Physicians’ actions involved searching for an understanding of older patients’ and their significant others’ wishes and needs, considering their unique conditions, guiding them, and adjusting care according to their wishes. Actions further involved promoting collaboration and reaching a consensus with all persons involved. Conclusion Physicians strive to individualize complex level-of-care decisions based on older patients’ and their significant others’ wishes and needs. Furthermore, individualized decisions depend on successful collaboration and consensus among older patients, their significant others and other health care professionals. Therefore, to facilitate individualized level-of-care decisions, the health care organizations need to support physicians when they are making individualized decisions, provide sufficient resources and promote 24 − 7 collaboration between organizations and health care professionals.