Abstract
BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly affected home-visit nursing agencies, making risk communication crucial to service continuity. However, little is known about how agency managers handle risk communication during this crisis. This study aimed to explore the experience of risk communication among managers of home-visit nursing agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 10 managers of home-visit nursing agencies in City A, Japan. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted between December 2021 and October 2022. The interviews explored managers' experiences across six domains: home-visit nursing activities, information management, communication with clients and staff, inter-organizational communication, behavioral influence, and emergency preparedness. The interview data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive analysis. RESULTS: Five main categories emerged: "Challenges of the infodemic and coping strategies," "Stepwise risk communication based on trust with clients and families," "Collaborative risk communication with staff within one's own agency," "Coordinated risk communication with other organizations," and "Organizational crisis management to sustain home-visit nursing services." Managers established systematic information management processes and implemented individualized communication strategies tailored to the diverse needs of stakeholders. These practices were supported by organizational crisis management systems. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that managers developed multilayered risk communication practices in response to infodemic challenges. Key recommendations for practical initiatives include establishing information management systems, systematizing communication strategies tailored to specific stakeholders, and developing organizational crisis management frameworks. These findings can inform the creation of risk communication strategies for home-visit nursing agencies during pandemics. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.