Critical issues in the relationships between patient relatives and hospital staff: Qualitative research based on focus group

Abstract

In Italy the number of elderly patients is increasing and often a family member, also called primary caregiver (CG), assists them. The aim of this study is to describe the peculiar relationships between the family primary CG and the hospital staff, when an elderly patient is admitted to hospital, to demonstrate how this may affect his/her clinical management during the hospital stay and formulate new research projects and organizational rearrangements.