Appalachian residents' experiences with and management of multiple morbidity

Nancy E. Schoenberg, Shoshana H. Bardach, Kavita N. Manchikanti, Anne C. Goodenow

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

Approximately three fourths of middle-aged and older adults have at least two simultaneously occurring chronic conditions ('multiple morbidity,' or MM), a trend expected to increase dramatically throughout the world. Rural residents, who tend to have fewer personal and health resources, are more likely to experience MM. To improve our understanding of the ways in which vulnerable, rural residents in the United States experience and manage MM, we interviewed 20 rural Appalachian residents with MM. We identified the following themes: (a) MM has multifaceted challenges and is viewed as more than the sum of its parts; (b) numerous challenges exist to optimal MM selfmanagement, particularly in a rural, underresourced context; however, (c) participants described strategic methods of managing MM, including prioritizing certain conditions and management strategies and drawing heavily on assistance from informal and formal sources.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)601-611
Number of pages11
JournalQualitative Health Research
Volume21
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2011

Keywords

  • Chronic
  • Experiences
  • Illness and disease
  • Interviews
  • Research rural
  • Risk perceptions
  • Self-care

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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