Evidence mapPaperPMID 41046449Full record

ArticleJournal of advanced nursing2026

Older Adults' Self-Care and Family Caregiver Contribution in Multiple Chronic Conditions: A Dyadic Qualitative Study.

Giulia Andrea Baldan, Irene Dello Iacono, Valentina Giurissevich, Davide Ausili, Ercole Vellone, Maddalena De Maria, Maria Matarese

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Article in Journal of advanced nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Giulia Andrea BaldanDepartment of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4365-4065
Irene Dello IaconoDepartment of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0001-2305-0727
Valentina GiurissevichDepartment of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3480-6135
Davide AusiliDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milan-Bicocca, Monza, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5212-6463
Ercole VelloneDepartment of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4673-7473
Maddalena De MariaDepartment of Life Health Sciences and Health Professions, Link Campus University, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0507-0158
Maria MatareseResearch Unit of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7923-914X

Funding

Centre of Excellence for Nursing Scholarship (CECRI) 2.16.9
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimsTo explore how older adult-family caregiver dyads jointly manage multiple chronic conditions. Specifically, it investigates how dyads (i) prioritise chronic diseases, (ii) make and negotiate decisions related to self-care and (iii) define and distribute self-care tasks and caregiver contributions.

designA qualitative descriptive study using dyadic data collection and analysis.

methodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted separately with chronically ill older adults and their family caregivers between July and December 2024. A hybrid inductive-deductive content analysis was applied. Dyadic analysis compared intra-dyad perspectives to identify patterns of agreement and disagreement.

resultsThirty-four dyads (n = 68 participants) were interviewed. Older adults had a mean age of 80.09 years (SD = 6.95) and were affected by a median of four chronic conditions. Family caregivers had a mean age of 51.71 years (SD = 14.59), with most being the older adults' children (66.67%) and women (82.35%). Five categories, comprising 25 subcategories, were derived from the data. Disease prioritisation varied within dyads: older adults often focused on conditions with the most disabling symptoms, while caregivers emphasised those with higher risks of complication. Decision-making roles ranged from older adult-led to caregiver-led to shared. Care organisation followed three models: collaborative, older adult-directed, or caregiver-directed. Challenges in managing diseases included treatment adherence, care coordination, emotional burden and addressing multiple symptoms simultaneously. Role distribution in disease management and decision-making was complex and occasionally misaligned, sometimes resulting in conflict. Collaborative dyads reported greater adaptability and balance, while incongruent dyads experienced relational and organisational strain.

conclusionManaging multiple chronic conditions in older adults is a relational process shaped by interpersonal dynamics and shared responsibilities with family caregivers. Recognising dyadic relational patterns is essential for designing targeted educational interventions. Nurses should incorporate dyadic assessments into routine care to improve outcomes for older adults and reduce caregiver burden. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: This study highlights the importance of viewing chronic disease management as a dyadic process, rather than an individual task, involving both the older adult and the family caregiver. Tailored strategies that account for the relational dynamics within dyads, such as decision-making roles and care task distribution, are essential for effective chronic disease management. REPORTING

methodConsolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ). PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: None.

Indexed as

CaregiversMultiple Chronic ConditionsSelf CareAdultAgedAged, 80 and overChronic DiseaseDecision MakingFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative Researchcaregivingchronic illnessdecision‐makingolder peopleself‐care

Identifiers

PMID41046449
PMCPMC13176706

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.