Table 3 Themes, categories, and subcategories of barriers to educating elderly patients from the nurses’ perspective
Theme | Main Category | Subcategory | Frequency of code (f) | % Of total keywords (% of 3943) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Environmental factors (Total frequency, 2707) | Staff training (Frequency, 1387) | Insufficient staff training | 810 | 20.54% |
Lack of education programs for elderly patients | 410 | 10.39% | ||
Lack of feedback mechanisms | 167 | 4.23% | ||
Hospital setting (Frequency, 1320) | Inappropriateness of the nurse‒patient ratio | 891 | 22.59% | |
Limited access to printed materials or digital tools tailored for elderly patients | 429 | 10.88% | ||
Cognitive impairments (Total frequency, 1962) | Memory issues (Frequency, 1343) | Short-term memory deficits | 722 | 18.31% |
Difficulty recalling previously learned health information | 621 | 15.74% | ||
Attention deficits (Frequency, 619) | Barriers to focusing during educational sessions due to distractions | 410 | 10.39% | |
Inability to process complex information quickly | 209 | 5.30% | ||
Communication and sensory barriers (Total frequency, 1799) | Language and communication difficulties (Frequency, 1067) | Speech disorders | 691 | 17.52% |
Misinterpretation of medical terminology or instructions | 378 | 9.58% | ||
Sensory impairments (Frequency, 721) | Hearing loss | 420 | 10.65% | |
Visual impairments | 301 | 7.63% | ||
Social support systems (Total frequency, 1417) | Family involvement (Frequency, 709) | Lack of family involvement in the education process | 411 | 10.42% |
Lack of involvement in care plans | 298 | 7.55% | ||
Peer support (Frequency, 708) | Absence of peer support groups that can share learning experiences | 389 | 10.09% | |
Lack of peer-led educational workshops | 221 | 5.60% | ||
Lack of resource-sharing networks | 98 | 2.48% | ||
Physical limitations (Total frequency, 811) | Mobility issues (Frequency, 459) | Difficulty accessing educational materials or sessions due to physical constraints | 250 | 6.34% |
Fatigue or exhaustion | 209 | 5.30% | ||
Pain and discomfort (Frequency, 352) | Chronic pain that distracts from the learning process | 244 | 6.18% | |
Acute discomfort during hospital stays | 108 | 2.73% | ||
Psychological barriers (Total frequency 369) | Anxiety and depression (Frequency, 278) | Anxiety about health conditions | 188 | 4.76% |
Depression and disengagement from educational opportunities | 90 | 2.28% | ||
Lack of motivation (Frequency, 91) | Perceived irrelevance of education to their current health status | 59 | 1.49% | |
Feelings of helplessness regarding their ability to manage their health | 32 | 0.81% |