Elderly Patients with Complex Multimorbidity Participating in Virtual 4-Party-Meeting. The Impact on Everyday Life: – a Qualitative Study

Background: Coordination and transitional care are significant focus areas in nursing. Cross-sectoral virtual 4-party meeting (V4M) was developed to coordinate and promote quality for patients with complex multimorbidity. Aim: To investigate how elderly patients with complex multimorbidity assess their participation in V4M and the impact on everyday life. Method: Qualitative individual first-person interviews with eight patients and three relatives, who had taken part in V4M before discharge from hospital. The interviews took place up to three months after discharge. Results: Overarching theme, Power and Self-Determination, described how participation fostered control, recognition, and influence. Three themes emerged: Cognition and Mastery, Relation and Involvement, and Planning and Follow-up followed by seven subthemes: clarification and influence, Help and independence, Understanding, Dialog, meeting the GP, Flexibility and Visibility and Shattered Expectation. Conclusion: V4M enhances coordination and patient empowerment in transitional care when professionals are prepared and responsive. Sustainable impact requires follow-up and cross-sectoral collaboration.