Utilizing dyadic and triadic family interviews to better understand the integrated care needs of older adults: Examples from a Canadian study exploring the needs of older adults at risk of admission to long-term care facilities.

Abstract

Background and purpose: In family sciences, the scientific study of families and close interpersonal relationships, dyadic and triadic interviewing is utilized to gain a more complete understanding of the experiences of families, as well as individuals within families. Family-based methods have been more commonly used in pediatric research, yet they have great utility in older adult integrated care research as well, particularly when older adults experience a decline in their health and family members become more involved in their care. The aim of this presentation is to describe the use of dyadic and triadic interviews as a research method when the research focuses the lives of older adults. 
 Methods: A Canadian study exploring the needs of older adults at risk of admission to long-term care facilities illustrates the use of family-based research methods in an older adult population. In this qualitative study, older adults and their family members were interviewed as individuals, dyads, and triads. 
 Results: Data was collected from 24 participants using family-based methods. The data was analyzed in multiple ways so that the experiences of individuals and groups were more fully understood. Overall, the main problem experienced by at-risk older adults and their family members was uncovered, including breakdowns related to an integrated healthcare system. 
 Conclusion: Reflections on the use of family-based methods with older adults will be presented, including how this data informed integrated care planning in this context. Further, this presentation will highlight how this method compares with focus groups, how and why dyadic and triadic interview data might be analyzed, and how this data can provide robust information to lead to a more informed integrated healthcare system.