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Table 2 Threats to patient safety reported by older people with multimorbidity

From: Threats to patient safety in primary care reported by older people with multimorbidity: baseline findings from a longitudinal qualitative study and implications for intervention

Themes

Examples

Everyday management of:

Health

• Struggles to accept limitations and does too much.

• Views old age as cause of or reason for health problems.

Treatment

• Has side-effects of medication or treatment.

• Limits use of medication or treatment.

Primary care:

Access

• Finds it difficult to get an appointment, esp. with preferred provider.

• Restricts primary care attendance.

Coordination

• Received contradictory or conflicting information or advice.

• Unable to obtain prescribed medication from pharmacy.

Breakdowns in:

Communication

• Did not receive results or feedback.

• Is unforthcoming about health problems.

Relationships

• Sees healthcare staff as unhelpful, rude, or disrespectful.

• Feels they are not always believed.

  1. (The full coding tree can be found in Additional file 3)