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Virtanen L, Kaihlanen AM, Kainiemi E, Saukkonen P, Heponiemi T. Patterns of acceptance and use of digital health services among the persistent frequent attenders of outpatient care: A qualitatively driven multimethod analysis. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231178422. [PMID: 37256014 PMCID: PMC10226178 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231178422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Utilising digital health services in the treatment of patients who frequently attend outpatient care could be beneficial for patients' health and the sustainability of health systems but carries the risk of digital exclusion. This study aimed to explore the patterns of acceptance and use of digital health services among frequent attenders (FAs), which may help in the assessment of patients' digital suitability. Methods Persistent FAs (N = 30) were recruited by random sampling from one Finnish municipality. The semistructured interviews were conducted in February-May 2021. We analysed the data with qualitative content analysis using the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model. Additionally, we quantified the data for two-step cluster analyses to create separate cluster models that grouped FAs based on acceptance and use of (a) digital services for self-management of health and (b) telemedicine services. Results Based on digital self-management, FAs were defined as Self-Managers, Supported Self-Managers, and Non-Self-Managers. Based on telemedicine use, they were grouped into Telemedicine Users, Doubtful Telemedicine Users, and Telemedicine Refusers. The clusters described different opportunities, awareness, and interest in using digital health services. Referral from professionals seemed to promote digital service use. For some, digital services were not accessible. Conclusions Our findings emphasise the importance of assessing the suitability of FAs to digital health services, as their readiness to use may vary. Professionals should recommend digital services that support individual health to suitable patients. More accessible digital services could promote digital suitability despite functional limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lotta Virtanen
- Welfare State Research and Reform Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and
Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anu-Marja Kaihlanen
- Welfare State Research and Reform Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and
Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Emma Kainiemi
- Welfare State Research and Reform Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and
Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Petra Saukkonen
- Welfare State Research and Reform Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and
Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tarja Heponiemi
- Welfare State Research and Reform Unit, Finnish Institute for Health and
Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
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Buczak-Stec EW, Hajek A, van den Bussche H, Eisele M, Oey A, Wiese B, Weyerer S, Werle J, Fuchs A, Pentzek M, Luppa M, Löbner M, Weeg D, Mösch E, Heser K, Wagner M, Riedel-Heller SG, Maier W, Scherer M, König HH. Factors Contributing to Persistent Frequent Attendance in Primary Care Among the Oldest Old: Longitudinal Evidence From the AgeCoDe-AgeQualiDe Study. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:815419. [PMID: 35386909 PMCID: PMC8977578 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.815419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Since there is a lack of longitudinal studies in this area, our aim was to identify the determinants of persistent frequent attendance in primary care among the oldest old in Germany. Methods Longitudinal data (follow-up wave 7-9) were taken from the multicenter prospective cohort "Study on needs, health service use, costs, and health-related quality of life in a large sample of oldest-old primary care patients (85+)" (AgeQualiDe), covering primary care patients ≥ 85 years (FU7 n = 741, mean age 88.9 years (SD 2.9; 85-100)). Persistent frequent attenders of general practitioner (GP) services (the patients in the top decile of the number of GP consultations in two or more consecutive waves) were our main outcome of interest. Logistic random-effects models were used. Results Our analysis included 1,891 observations (766 individuals). Across three waves, we identified 56 persistent frequent attenders. Results of random-effects logistic regressions showed that the odds of being persistent frequent attender were higher for widowed individuals (OR = 4.57; 95% CI [1.07-19.45]). Moreover, a one-point increase in the frailty score and having one more chronic condition increased the odds of being a persistent frequent attender by 68% (OR =1.68; 95% CI [1.05-2.69]) and 23% (OR=1.23, 95% CI [1.05-1.44]), respectively. Conclusion Our study stressed the longitudinal association between frailty and widowhood as well as chronic diseases and persistent frequent attendance among the oldest old in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elżbieta W Buczak-Stec
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - André Hajek
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hendrik van den Bussche
- Department of General Practice and Primary Medical Care, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marion Eisele
- Department of General Practice and Primary Medical Care, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anke Oey
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of General Practice, Hanover, Germany
| | - Birgitt Wiese
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of General Practice, Hanover, Germany
| | - Siegfried Weyerer
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jochen Werle
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim/Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Angela Fuchs
- Medical Faculty, Institute of General Practice, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael Pentzek
- Medical Faculty, Institute of General Practice, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Melanie Luppa
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Margit Löbner
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dagmar Weeg
- Department of Psychiatry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Edelgard Mösch
- Department of Psychiatry, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kathrin Heser
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael Wagner
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Steffi G Riedel-Heller
- Institute of Social Medicine, Occupational Health and Public Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Maier
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Martin Scherer
- Department of General Practice and Primary Medical Care, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Helmut König
- Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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