Self-care needs in an aged population living with a chronic condition or multimorbidity: a systematic review

Abstract Background A increase in average life expectancy leads us to an older population with multimorbidity. Understanding their self-care needs is essential for a response that promotes self-care with better health outcomes. Methods A systematic review was performed to identify the self-care needs of an aged population living in their own residency with a chronic condition or multiple chronic conditions, in high income countries. Any approach designed and implemented to assess self-care needs was considered, with no restrictions applied to study designs. Two electronic databases were searched, MEDLINE (PubMed) and Web of Science, between the 1st of January 2017, and the 28th of April 2023, and structured according to the guidelines of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). A narrative synthesis approach was adopted to extract, synthesize, and analyse the data. Results In the included studies (n = 14), which identified self-care needs in older people with multimorbidity, they considered three dimensions: Self-maintenance; Self-monitoring and Self-management. The methods and tools that researchers used most frequently to identify and analyse self-care needs were questionnaires and interviews. All the participants with self-care needs had two or more chronic pathologies (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, kidney disease, among others), although some didn’t mention them specifically. Conclusions Self-care for older people with multimorbidity who are not institutionalized is fundamental, with an integrated approach to their health process, with healthcare aimed at their individual needs. Trial registration PROSPERO, number CRD42023429034.