Resources and resilience factors: How advanced practice nurses can promote resilience in hearing and visually impaired people – A grounded theory perspective from Switzerland

Abstract

BackgroundThere is an increase in hearing and visual impairments worldwide. Those affected have a reduced ability to participate in social contacts, mobility, and access to information. Until now, there have been no recommendations for Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) in Switzerland to support this group of people in the autonomous organization of everyday life in their own homes. ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to understand how people integrate their dual hearing and visual impairments into everyday life to derive recommendations for APNs to support individuals to manage their daily lives. MethodsFollowing the constructivist approach of grounded theory, guided interviews and a questionnaire survey with hearing and visually impaired persons (n = 46) over 70 years of age on independent daily living were conducted (concurrent embedded strategy). In addition, demographic data on age, gender, living situation, and use of assistive devices were analyzed. FindingsBased on the results, a communication-based dynamic resilience model (CoRes) was developed. This article represents the third phase of the three-stage-model. Integration of altered hearing depends on resources and risk factors. ConclusionsAdvanced practice nurses can use recommendations from this research to actively help individuals and their families build resilience.