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Huang HL, Chao YP, Kuo CY, Sung YL, Shyu YIL, Hsu WC. Development of a Dementia Case Management Information System App: Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Aging 2024; 7:e56549. [PMID: 39312770 DOI: 10.2196/56549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Case managers for persons with dementia not only coordinate patient care but also provide family caregivers with educational material and available support services. Taiwan uses a government-based information system for monitoring the provision of health care services. Unfortunately, scheduling patient care and providing information to family caregivers continues to be paper-based, which results in a duplication of patient assessments, complicates scheduling of follow-ups, and hinders communication with caregivers, which limits the ability of case managers to provide cohesive, quality care. OBJECTIVE This multiphase study aimed to develop an electronic information system for dementia care case managers based on their perceived case management needs and what they would like included in an electronic health care app. METHODS Case managers were recruited to participate (N=63) by purposive sampling from 28 facilities representing two types of community-based dementia care centers in Taiwan. A dementia case management information system (DCMIS) app was developed in four phases. Phase 1 assessed what should be included in the app by analyzing qualitative face-to-face or internet-based interviews with 33 case managers. Phase 2 formulated a framework for the app to support case managers based on key categories identified in phase 1. During phase 3, a multidisciplinary team of information technology engineers and dementia care experts developed the DCMIS app: hardware and software components were selected, including platforms for messaging, data management, and security. The app was designed to eventually interface with a family caregiver app. Phase 4 involved pilot-testing the DCMIS app with a second group of managers (n=30); feedback was provided via face-to-face interviews about their user experience. RESULTS Findings from interviews in phase 1 indicated the DCMIS framework should include unified databases for patient reminder follow-up scheduling, support services, a health education module, and shared recordkeeping to facilitate teamwork, networking, and communication. The DCMIS app was built on the LINE (LY Corporation) messaging platform, which is the mobile app most widely used in Taiwan. An open-source database management system allows secure entry and storage of user information and patient data. Case managers had easy access to educational materials on dementia and caregiving for persons living with dementia that could be provided to caregivers. Interviews with case managers following pilot testing indicated that the DCMIS app facilitated the completion of tasks and management responsibilities. Some case managers thought it would be helpful to have a DCMIS desktop computer system rather than a mobile app. CONCLUSIONS Based on pilot testing, the DCMIS app could reduce the growing challenges of high caseloads faced by case managers of persons with dementia, which could improve continuity of care. These findings will serve as a reference when the system is fully developed and integrated with the electronic health care system in Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huei-Ling Huang
- Department of Gerontology and Health Care Management, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
- Dementia Center, Department of Neurology, Taoyuan Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Geriatric and Long-Term Care Research Center, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ping Chao
- Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yu Kuo
- Department of Gerontology and Health Care Management, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Li Sung
- Department of Gerontology and Health Care Management, College of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
| | - Yea-Ing L Shyu
- School of Nursing, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chuin Hsu
- Dementia Center, Department of Neurology, Taoyuan Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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Pinero de Plaza MA, Hutchinson C, Beleigoli A, Tieu M, Lawless M, Conroy T, Feo R, Clark RA, Dafny H, McMillan P, Allande-Cussó R, Kitson AA. The Caring Life Course Theory: Opening new frontiers in care-A cardiac rehabilitation example. J Adv Nurs 2024. [PMID: 39011837 DOI: 10.1111/jan.16312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
AIM(S) To operationalize the Caring Life Course Theory (CLCT) as a framework for improving cardiac rehabilitation (CR) engagement and informing ways to address disparities in rural, low socio-economic areas. METHODS A secondary analysis of data collected from 15 CR programmes to identify CR patterns through the CLCT lens using a mixed-methods approach. All analytical processes were conducted in NVivo, coding qualitative data through thematic analysis based on CLCT constructs. Relationships among these constructs were quantitatively assessed using Jaccard coefficients and hierarchical clustering via dendrogram analysis to identify related clusters. RESULTS A strong interconnectedness among constructs: 'care from others', 'capability', 'care network' and 'care provision' (coefficient = 1) highlights their entangled crucial role in CR. However, significant conceptual disparities between 'care biography' and 'fundamental care' (coefficient = 0.4) and between 'self-care' and 'care biography' (coefficient = 0.384615) indicate a need for more aligned and personalized care approaches within CR. CONCLUSION The CLCT provides a comprehensive theoretical and practical framework to address disparities in CR, facilitating a personalized approach to enhance engagement in rural and underserved regions. IMPLICATIONS Integrating CLCT into CR programme designs could effectively address participation challenges, demonstrating the theory's utility in developing targeted, accessible care interventions/solutions. IMPACT Explored the challenge of low CR engagement in rural, low socio-economic settings. Uncovered care provision, transitions and individual care biographies' relevance for CR engagement. Demonstrated the potential of CLCT to inform/transform CR services for underserved populations, impacting practices and outcomes. REPORTING METHOD EQUATOR-MMR-RHS. PATIENT CONTRIBUTION A consumer co-researcher contributed to all study phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Alejandra Pinero de Plaza
- Caring Futures Institute, College Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- The Mparntwe Centre for Evidence in Health, Flinders University: A JBI Centre of Excellence, Alice Springs, Northwest Territories, Australia
| | - Claire Hutchinson
- Caring Futures Institute, College Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Alline Beleigoli
- Caring Futures Institute, College Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Matthew Tieu
- Caring Futures Institute, College Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Adelaide Health Simulation, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Michael Lawless
- Caring Futures Institute, College Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Tiffany Conroy
- Caring Futures Institute, College Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- The Mparntwe Centre for Evidence in Health, Flinders University: A JBI Centre of Excellence, Alice Springs, Northwest Territories, Australia
| | - Rebecca Feo
- Caring Futures Institute, College Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Robyn A Clark
- Caring Futures Institute, College Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- The Mparntwe Centre for Evidence in Health, Flinders University: A JBI Centre of Excellence, Alice Springs, Northwest Territories, Australia
| | - Hila Dafny
- Caring Futures Institute, College Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Penelope McMillan
- Health Consumer Advocate with Lived Experience in Multimorbidity Disease Management, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Regina Allande-Cussó
- Nursing Department, Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry School, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
| | - Alison A Kitson
- Caring Futures Institute, College Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Tennant R, Allana S, Mercer K, Burns CM. Capturing Home Care Information Management and Communication Processes Among Caregivers of Older Adults: Qualitative Study to Inform Technology Design. JMIR Form Res 2024; 8:e53289. [PMID: 38963695 PMCID: PMC11258521 DOI: 10.2196/53289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The demand for complex home care is increasing with the growing aging population and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Family and hired caregivers play a critical role in providing care for individuals with complex home care needs. However, there are significant gaps in research informing the design of complex home care technologies that consider the experiences of family and hired caregivers collectively. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to explore the health documentation and communication experiences of family and hired caregivers to inform the design and adoption of new technologies for complex home care. METHODS The research involved semistructured interviews with 15 caregivers, including family and hired caregivers, each of whom was caring for an older adult with complex medical needs in their home in Ontario, Canada. Due to COVID-19-related protection measures, the interviews were conducted via Teams (Microsoft Corp). The interview guide was informed by the cognitive work analysis framework, and the interview was conducted using storytelling principles of narrative medicine to enhance knowledge. Inductive thematic analysis was used to code the data and develop themes. RESULTS Three main themes were developed. The first theme described how participants were continually updating the caregiver team, which captured how health information, including their communication motivations and intentions, was shared among family and hired caregiver participants. The subthemes included binder-based health documentation, digital health documentation, and communication practices beyond the binder. The second theme described how participants were learning to improve care and decision-making, which captured how they acted on information from various sources to provide care. The subthemes included developing expertise as a family caregiver and tailoring expertise as a hired caregiver. The third theme described how participants experienced conflicts within caregiver teams, which captured the different struggles arising from, and the causes of, breakdowns in communication and coordination between family and hired caregiver participants. The subthemes included 2-way communication and trusting the caregiver team. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the health information communication and coordination challenges and experiences that family and hired caregivers face in complex home care settings for older adults. Given the challenges of this work domain, there is an opportunity for appropriate digital technology design to improve complex home care. When designing complex home care technologies, it will be critical to include the overlapping and disparate perspectives of family and hired caregivers collectively providing home care for older adults with complex needs to support all caregivers in their vital roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Tennant
- Department of Systems Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Sana Allana
- Department of Systems Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Kate Mercer
- Department of Systems Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- Library, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Catherine M Burns
- Department of Systems Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
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Damant J. Unpaid carers of people with dementia and information communication technology: Use, impact and ideas for the future. DEMENTIA 2024; 23:779-799. [PMID: 38664990 PMCID: PMC11163843 DOI: 10.1177/14713012241249793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Several 100,000s of people living with dementia in the UK are cared for at home by a spouse or relative. Few studies have considered the ICT needs and experiences of unpaid carers. This study explores the types of ICT unpaid carers use, the ways they use ICT, the impact of ICT-use, and their ideas for how ICT could be more supportive of their role as a carer. METHODS Six focus groups with 32 unpaid carers of people living with dementia discussed their experiences of - and barriers to - using ICT. Transcripts were analysed thematically according to three types of ICT (mainstream, accessible and formal) and five functions (supporting domestic tasks, care management, monitoring, communication and information and education). RESULTS Participants predominantly used mainstream ICT devices such as laptops and smartphones and internet-enabled applications including videoconferencing and social media platforms to support their daily activities and assist them in their caring role. A few participants discussed using accessible devices such as memory clocks and formal telecare and care-phone services for care management and monitoring functions. Participants' ideas for improvements centred on personalised communication applications that facilitate remote interactions and promote persons living with dementia's independence. Others expressed concerns about the growing need to use ICT to access formal care services and the inadequacy of the ICT infrastructure in some care homes. CONCLUSIONS Unpaid carers mostly turn to readily available mainstream ICT to support their personal and care activities. Further research is required to understand the social impact of the increasing reliance of ICT across health, social and residential care service sectors. Improved cooperation between unpaid carers, technology developers and care services providers could align ICT development to the needs and experiences of families living with dementia and assist unpaid carers with identifying ICTs that optimally support their personal circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Damant
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre of the London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
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Soares S, Hoffmeister LV, Fernandes MDF, Henriques A, Costa A. The Use of Digital Technologies in the Promotion of Health Literacy and Empowerment of Informal Caregivers: Scoping Review. JMIR Aging 2024; 7:e54913. [PMID: 38683655 DOI: 10.2196/54913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Informal caregivers (IC) play an important role in the community as health care providers for people who are dependent on self-care. Health literacy contributes to empowerment, better care, and self-management of one's own health and can be developed using digital technologies. OBJECTIVE This study aims to map scientific evidence about the use of digital technologies to promote health literacy and the empowerment of ICs. METHODS We conducted a scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. The CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus, and PubMed databases were searched to find primary studies on the theme. Inclusion criteria were based on the Population, Concept, and Context logic. To be selected for analysis, studies must have involved informal or family caregivers aged ≥18 years who provide care to dependent persons and who have access to the internet and digital devices (computer, smartphone, and tablet). A total of 2 independent researchers (SS and LVH) performed the screening process. This study is part of a main project that was approved by the Ethics Committee for Health of the Regional Health Administration of Lisbon and Tagus Valley (reference 058/CES/INV/2022). RESULTS A total of 9 studies were included in the review. The analysis of the studies showed that ICs use digital tools, such as computers and smartphones, with smartphones being the preferred tool. ICs use the internet to access information; manage home tasks; communicate with relatives, their peers, and health care professionals; and take part in forums. Due to difficulties in leaving their houses, forums are highly valued to preserve human connections. CONCLUSIONS The use of digital technologies to convey clear, objective, reliable, and accessible information is a strategic action for promoting health literacy and for contemplating the variable care needs of ICs. By working with ICs in the development of new technologies, researchers are building a new tool that meets ICs' needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzete Soares
- Nursing School of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Family Health Unit Carnide Quer, North Lisbon Health Center Cluster, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Louíse Viecili Hoffmeister
- Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Nursing School of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- National School of Public Health, NOVA University, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria de Fátima Fernandes
- Nursing School of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Community Care Unit Integrar na Saúde, Administração Regional de Saúde de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Adriana Henriques
- Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Nursing School of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Institute of Environmental Health, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Andreia Costa
- Nursing Research, Innovation and Development Centre of Lisbon (CIDNUR), Nursing School of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Institute of Environmental Health, Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
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Johansson B, Cajander Å, Ahmad A, Ohlsson-Nevo E, Fransson P, Granström B, von Essen L, Langegård U, Pettersson M, Henriksson A, Ehrsson YT. The effect of internet-administered support (carer eSupport) on preparedness for caregiving in informal caregivers of patients with head and neck cancer compared with support as usual: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:494. [PMID: 38637744 PMCID: PMC11025201 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12273-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Informal caregivers (ICs) of patients with cancer provide essential and mainly uncompensated care. A self-perceived preparedness to care for the patient is associated with a lower caregiver burden, described as the extent to which caregiving is perceived as having adverse effects on IC functioning and well-being. ICs' well-being is associated with patient-perceived quality of care, suggesting that interventions to optimize ICs' health are essential in order to improve patient care. Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common malignant disease in the world. The disease and its treatment have a significant negative impact on the patient's health and quality of life. Symptoms usually interfere with swallowing, food and fluid intake, breathing, speaking, and communication. ICs frequently manage patients' symptoms and side effects, especially problems related to nutrition and oral pain, without being properly prepared. Carer eSupport is an Internet-administered intervention, based on focus group discussions with ICs, developed in collaboration with ICs and healthcare professionals, tested for feasibility, and deemed feasible. This study protocol outlines the methods of investigating the effects of Carer eSupport plus support as usual (SAU) on self-reported preparedness for caregiving, caregiver burden, and well-being in the ICs of patients with HNC, compared with ICs receiving SAU only. METHODS AND ANALYSIS In this randomized controlled trial, 110 ICs of patients with HNC, undergoing radiotherapy combined with surgery and/or medical oncological treatment, will be randomized (1:1) to Carer eSupport plus SAU or SAU only. Data will be collected at baseline (before randomization), post-intervention (after 18 weeks), and 3 months after post-intervention. The primary outcome is self-reported preparedness for caregiving. Secondary outcomes are self-reported caregiver burden, anxiety, depression, and health-related quality of life. The effect of Carer eSupport plus SAU on preparedness for caregiving and secondary outcomes, compared with SAU only, will be evaluated by intention to treat analyses using linear regression models, mixed-model regression, or analysis of covariance. DISCUSSION If proven effective, Carer eSupport has the potential to significantly improve ICs' preparedness for caregiving and their wellbeing, thereby improving patient-perceived quality of care and patient wellbeing. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT06307418, registered 12.03.2024 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/search? term=NCT06307418).
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgitta Johansson
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, Rudbecklaboratoriet, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Åsa Cajander
- Division of Visual Information and Interaction, Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, 751 05, Uppsala, Box 337, Sweden
| | - Awais Ahmad
- Division of Visual Information and Interaction, Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, 751 05, Uppsala, Box 337, Sweden
| | - Emma Ohlsson-Nevo
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, 701 82, Örebro, Sweden
- University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, 701 82, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Per Fransson
- Department of Nursing, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Brith Granström
- Department of Diagnostics and Intervention, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Louise von Essen
- Healthcare Sciences and e-Health, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjölds väg 14B, 751 85, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ulrica Langegård
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Uppsala University, Rudbecklaboratoriet, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Oncology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 413 45, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Mona Pettersson
- Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, 751 22, Uppsala, Box 564, Sweden
| | - Anna Henriksson
- Physiotherapy and behavioral medicine, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala University, 751 22, Uppsala, Box 564, Sweden
- The School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, Mälardalen University, 721 23, Västerås, Box 883, Sweden
| | - Ylva Tiblom Ehrsson
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Section of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Uppsala University, Akademiska sjukhuset, ingång 70, bv, Rudbecklaboratoriet, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
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Zhang M, Zhang L, Zhi X, Cheng F, Yao Y, Deng R, Liu C, Wang Y. Demand analysis of health care services for community-dwelling breast cancer survivors based on the Kano model: A cross-sectional study. Int J Nurs Sci 2024; 11:171-178. [PMID: 38707692 PMCID: PMC11064550 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnss.2024.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Providing satisfactory healthcare services for breast cancer survivors can effectively reduce their burden and the pressure on medical resources. The aim of this study was to explore health care service demands for community-dwelling breast cancer survivors using the Kano model. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted from January to March 2023 among breast cancer survivors discharged from a tertiary cancer hospital. Participants were asked to fill out a self-designed questionnaire involving the Kano model, which helped to categorize and prioritize the attributes of healthcare services. The questionnaire included 30 health care services. Additionally, their social demographic characteristics were collected during the survey. Results A total of 296 valid questionnaires were collected, and demand attributes of the 30 health care services were evaluated. The findings revealed that one of 30 services was classified as "must-be attributes" (body image management), 13 as "one-dimensional attributes" (focused on medical security support, health management, and health counseling), 3 as "attractive attributes" (focused on communication needs and telehealth services), and 11 as "indifferent attributes" (mainly in the area of psycho-social services). Conclusions Breast cancer survivors in the community have different levels of need for various health care services. It's crucial for healthcare providers to identify these needs and devise effective strategies to deliver the appropriate services. Services with must-be and one-dimensional attributes should be given priority, and efforts should be made to provide services with attractive attributes, hence improving the quality of life of breast cancer survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maomao Zhang
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Liuliu Zhang
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoxu Zhi
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Fang Cheng
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Yufeng Yao
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Rong Deng
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunli Liu
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China
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Sharma N, Grotenhuijs K, Gemert-Pijnen JEWCV, Oinas-Kukkonen H, Braakman-Jansen LMA. Low-Fidelity Prototype of a Sensor-Dependent Interaction Platform: Formative Evaluation With Informal Caregivers of Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment. JMIR Form Res 2024; 8:e53402. [PMID: 38517461 PMCID: PMC10998178 DOI: 10.2196/53402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Unobtrusive sensing technologies developed for monitoring deviant behaviors in older adult care require integration with an interaction platform to facilitate the flow of information between older adults and their caregivers. However, the continuous monitoring capabilities generate a considerable amount of data that must be interpreted, filtered, and personalized before being communicated to the informal caregivers based on their specific care needs and requirements. OBJECTIVE For the effective implementation of unobtrusive sensing solutions (USSs) in the care of older adults with cognitive impairment, we aimed to explore the expectations and preconditions regarding the implementation of USSs from the perspective of informal caregivers. Subsequently, we designed and evaluated a low-fidelity prototype of an interaction platform for its conceptual workflow and usability, incorporating persuasive system design features based on the needs and requirements of informal caregivers. METHODS Overall, 6 informal caregivers of older adults with cognitive impairment living alone participated in this qualitative interview study. We explored the expectation and preconditions regarding implementation through open-ended questions and conducted a formative evaluation (usability study with a think-aloud approach) to evaluate the conceptual workflow and used persuasive system design features in the interaction platform. Overall, a combination of inductive and thematic analyses was used to analyze the interviews. RESULTS The results of this study present both positive and negative outcome expectations regarding the implementation of USSs, highlighting benefits such as objective decision-making and peace of mind and concerns about information overload and the potential substitution of human contact. Strategic information communication agreements between informal and formal caregivers were deemed crucial for the successful implementation of USSs in care. Overall, informal caregivers had a positive experience with the low-fidelity prototype of the interaction platform, particularly valuing the personalization feature. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, to achieve successful implementation, a holistic design approach is necessary, and equal consideration should be given to the personalization-privacy paradox to balance users' needs and privacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Sharma
- Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
- Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Karen Grotenhuijs
- Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | | | - Harri Oinas-Kukkonen
- Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - L M A Braakman-Jansen
- Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
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Semonella M, Marchesi G, Andersson G, Dekel R, Pietrabissa G, Vilchinsky N. Usability study of SOSteniamoci: An internet-based intervention platform to support informal caregivers in Italy. Digit Health 2024; 10:20552076231225082. [PMID: 38235418 PMCID: PMC10793194 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231225082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Providing informal care can be experienced as stressful and lead to caregiver burden. Internet-based interventions, a specific form of eHealth, have proven to be a good option to support informal caregivers. SOSteniamoci, an internet-based intervention already tested in Lithuania, was translated and adapted for Italian caregivers. Objective As many novel eHealth solutions have been rejected by end-users due to usability problems, we aimed to evaluate the usability of the adapted platform, using a computer-based prototype. Methods The following methods and metrics were applied: 1. task analysis, using audio and video recordings that included three usability metrics: task completion rate, frequency of errors, and frequency of help requests; 2. the system usability scale (SUS); and 3. a semi-structured interview to collect additional data about the system's design and overall satisfaction. Results Ten informal caregivers (60% female; age M = 47.8, SD = 15.21) provided insights and suggestions for increasing the usability of the platform. The platform was considered satisfactory, with a mean score on the SUS of 75 (SD = 13.07) out of 100. The task analysis measurements highlighted difficulties in how to log in to the platform, understanding what the intervention is about, and texting the therapist. The same difficulties were also mentioned during the post-experience interview. Thus, improvements were subsequently made to enhance users' experience when navigating the platform. Finally, the platform overall was found to be intuitive and friendly, and the contents were appreciated. Conclusion To maintain participants' engagement and prevent drop-out, it is crucial to test the usability of internet-based interventions. Even though the platform proved to be user-friendly, intuitive and easy to use, several enhancements were implemented based on participants' feedback. Thus, the usability of internet-based interventions should be tested, and end-users must be involved in the development process of such solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gloria Marchesi
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
| | - Gerhard Andersson
- Department of Behavioural Science and Learning, Linköping University, Linkoping, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rachel Dekel
- School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Giada Pietrabissa
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
- Psychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Noa Vilchinsky
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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Masterson Creber R, Dodson JA, Bidwell J, Breathett K, Lyles C, Harmon Still C, Ooi SY, Yancy C, Kitsiou S. Telehealth and Health Equity in Older Adults With Heart Failure: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes 2023; 16:e000123. [PMID: 37909212 DOI: 10.1161/hcq.0000000000000123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Enhancing access to care using telehealth is a priority for improving outcomes among older adults with heart failure, increasing quality of care, and decreasing costs. Telehealth has the potential to increase access to care for patients who live in underresourced geographic regions, have physical disabilities or poor access to transportation, and may not otherwise have access to cardiologists with expertise in heart failure. During the COVID-19 pandemic, access to telehealth expanded, and yet barriers to access, including broadband inequality, low digital literacy, and structural barriers, prevented many of the disadvantaged patients from getting equitable access. Using a health equity lens, this scientific statement reviews the literature on telehealth for older adults with heart failure; provides an overview of structural, organizational, and personal barriers to telehealth; and presents novel interventions that pair telemedicine with in-person services to mitigate existing barriers and structural inequities.
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Bailey C, Guo P, MacArtney J, Finucane A, Meade R, Swan S, Wagstaff E. "Palliative care is so much more than that": a qualitative study exploring experiences of hospice staff and bereaved carers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1139313. [PMID: 38026434 PMCID: PMC10662348 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1139313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The way in which end-of-life care was provided changed significantly during the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The national lockdown restrictions reduced formal care support services and increased the burden on many carers taking on the caring role for the first time. We aimed to explore decision-making about the place of care during the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on experience from the perspectives of carers and hospice staff caring for people at the end-of-life. Methods A qualitative study using virtual interviews was conducted between October 2020 and April 2021. Data were analyzed thematically using framework analysis, an analytical framework that enables qualitative research to be organized into defined themes derived from the research question. Findings were presented to stakeholders in policy roundtables between March 2022 and March 2023 and discussed collaboratively with staff, stakeholders, and the public to inform policy and practice change. Findings A total of 37 participants (15 bereaved carers and 22 staff) were recruited via hospice services in England and Scotland. Four key themes were identified: (1) changing preferences relating to decision-making about the place of care and the impact at the time of death and into bereavement; (2) missed opportunities related to not being there, not having others around, and being robbed of memory-making; (3) the lone carer during a period of high intensity and reduced home support; (4) process vs. person-centered care resulting from changing rules and restrictions and prioritization of regulations over essential palliative care. Conclusion The study provides valuable global implications for all involved in end-of-life care. Despite great efforts to provide dignified, quality care, palliative care during the pandemic changed, focusing on essential 'physical care'. The psychological suffering experienced by staff and carers may need longer-term support mechanisms put in place, which will benefit from a public health approach. Policymakers should consider improving carer identification and resources for wider end-of-life care education to support the needs of carers, health and social care staff, and citizens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Bailey
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ping Guo
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - John MacArtney
- Unit of Primary Care, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Finucane
- Clinical Psychology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Meade
- Clinical Psychology, Carers UK, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Swan
- Maggie's Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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Allemann H, Andréasson F, Hanson E, Magnusson L, Jaarsma T, Thylén I, Strömberg A. The co-design of an online support programme with and for informal carers of people with heart failure: A methodological paper. J Clin Nurs 2023; 32:7589-7604. [PMID: 37605222 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
AIM To describe the co-designing process of an online support programme with and for informal carers of people with heart failure. DESIGN A co-design process built on core concepts and ideas embedded in co-design methodology. DATA SOURCES Our co-design process included three phases involving 32 informal caregivers and 25 content creators; (1) Identification of topics and content through literature searches, focus group interviews and user group sessions; (2) Development of the online support programme and; (3) Refinement and finalization which included testing a paper prototype followed by testing the online version and testing and approval of the final version of the support programme. OUTCOMES The co-design process resulted in a support programme consisting of 15 different modules relevant to informal carers, delivered on a National Health Portal. CONCLUSION Co-design is an explorative process where researchers need to balance a range of potentially conflicting factors and to ensure that the end users are genuinely included in the process. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Emphasizing equal involvement of end users (e.g. carers or patients) in the design and development of healthcare interventions aligns with contemporary ideas of person-centred care and provides a valuable learning opportunity for those involved. Furthermore, a co-designed online support programme has the capacity to be both accessible and meet end users' information and support needs, thereby optimizing their self-care abilities. Additionally, an online support programme provides the opportunity to address current challenges regarding scarce resources and the lack of healthcare personnel. REPORTING METHODS Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ). PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION Both informal carers and content creators were involved in developing the support programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Allemann
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | | | - Elizabeth Hanson
- Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
- Regional Association of Kalmar County, Swedish Family Care Competence Centre, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Lennart Magnusson
- Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden
- Regional Association of Kalmar County, Swedish Family Care Competence Centre, Kalmar, Sweden
| | - Tiny Jaarsma
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Ingela Thylén
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Cardiology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Anna Strömberg
- Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Cardiology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Fan Q, DuBose L, Ory MG, Lee S, Hoang MN, Vennatt J, Kew CL, Doyle D, Falohun T. Financial, Legal, and Functional Challenges of Providing Care for People Living With Dementia and Needs for a Digital Platform: Interview Study Among Family Caregivers. JMIR Aging 2023; 6:e47577. [PMID: 37526513 PMCID: PMC10509746 DOI: 10.2196/47577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer disease and Alzheimer disease-related dementia represent complex neuropathologies directly challenging individuals, their families, and communities in the United States. To support persons living with dementia, family or informal caregivers often encounter complex financial, psychological, and physical challenges. A widely used solution such as a consolidated web-based assistance or guidance platform is missing, compounding care challenges. OBJECTIVE In preparation for designing an internet-based artificial intelligence-driven digital resource platform, a qualitative interview study was conducted to characterize the challenges and needs of family caregivers in the United States. METHODS A semistructured interview topic guide in English was developed by engaging community partners and research partnerships. Family caregiver participants were purposefully recruited via various means, such as word of mouth, local dementia community service providers, digital recruitment emails, flyers, and social media. Interested individuals were first invited to complete an eligibility screening survey, and eligible individuals were then contacted to arrange a web-based in-depth interview via Zoom (Zoom Video Communications) from January 1, 2022, to May 31, 2022. A follow-up survey was administered in May 2022 to provide an overview of the participants' demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, and caregiving information. Thematic analysis in a framework approach was used to identify and organize themes and the study findings. RESULTS Following the prescreening of 150 eligible respondents, 20% (30/150) individuals completed both the interviews and follow-up survey, allowing for an in-depth look into the challenges, experiences, and expectations of primary caregivers of people living with dementia. Most participants (20/30, 67%) were primary caregivers of persons with dementia, and 93% (28/30) had provided care for at least a year. Most participants were aged >50 years (25/30, 83%), female (23/30, 77%), White (25/30, 83%), and non-Hispanic (27/30, 90%) and held a bachelor's or graduate degree (22/30, 73%). Collectively, all participants acknowledged challenges in caring for people living with dementia. Thematic analyses elicited the challenges of caregiving related to functional care needs and financial and legal challenges. In addition, participants identified the need for an integrative digital platform where information could be supplied to foster education, share resources, and provide community support, enabling family caregivers to improve the quality of care and reducing caregiver burden. CONCLUSIONS This study emphasized the difficulties associated with the family caregiver role and the expectations and potential for a supportive web-based platform to mitigate current challenges within the caregiving role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiping Fan
- Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - Logan DuBose
- Internal Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Marcia G Ory
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Shinduk Lee
- Division of Health Systems and Community-Based Care, College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Minh-Nguyet Hoang
- School of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Jeswin Vennatt
- School of Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Chung Lin Kew
- Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - David Doyle
- College of Medicine, Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant, MI, United States
| | - Tokunbo Falohun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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14
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Premanandan S, Ahmad A, Cajander Å, Ågerfalk P, van Gemert-Pijnen L. Designing and Evaluating IT Applications for Informal Caregivers: Protocol for a Scoping Review. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e47650. [PMID: 37410533 PMCID: PMC10360011 DOI: 10.2196/47650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing number of informal caregivers in many countries are important for effective functioning of health care in our society. Hence, they must receive the required support and services to continue providing care. IT applications can be used to support informal caregivers in their caregiving activities. However, evidence-informed guidelines for developing such IT applications and their evaluation are scarce. Hence, this scoping review can aid researchers and designers by providing design recommendations for IT apps for caregivers and potentially improve the design of IT applications for caregivers to meet their needs better. OBJECTIVE This study aims to describe the proposal for a scoping review of current practices and recommendations in designing and evaluating IT applications for informal caregivers. The scoping review will also discuss the opportunities and challenges in designing these IT applications. METHODS We will use a 5-step scoping review methodology to map relevant literature published as follows: (1) identify the research question, (2) identify relevant studies, (3) select relevant studies for review, (4) chart the data from selected literature, and (5) summarize and report results. A structured search will be conducted in PubMed, Scopus, IEEE digital library, Web of Science, and ACM Digital Library databases. In addition, hand searches of reference lists and keyword searches in Google Scholar will also be conducted. Inclusion criteria will be researched (journal and conference) articles focused on IT applications designed for use by informal caregivers and study type to be qualitative studies. Two reviewers will independently identify articles for review and extract data. Conflicts will be discussed, and a third reviewer will be consulted if a consensus cannot be reached. These data will be analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS The results from this scoping review will be presented in a narrative form, and additional data on study characteristics will be presented in diagrams or tabular format. Uppsala University first initiated this scoping review protocol in December 2021 as part of the European Union-funded project ENTWINE. This work was also supported by the Swedish Research Council and the Swedish Cancer Society. The results will be presented in August 2023 and will be disseminated through a report to the European Union and a peer-reviewed journal publication. In addition, the team plans to share its findings on various public platforms, including social media, blog posts, and relevant conferences and workshops. CONCLUSIONS This is, to our knowledge, the first study to map the literature on the design and evaluation of IT applications for informal caregivers. The scoping review's results will detail the requirements, design suggestions, and user preferences, as well as the usability criteria and features of IT applications for informal caregivers. A mapping of studies could inform the design and implementation of future IT applications for informal caregivers. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/47650.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Premanandan
- Department of Informatics and Media, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Awais Ahmad
- Division of Visual Information and Interaction, Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Åsa Cajander
- Division of Visual Information and Interaction, Department of Information Technology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pär Ågerfalk
- Department of Informatics and Media, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lisette van Gemert-Pijnen
- Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research, Department of Psychology, Health & Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
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15
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Hassan AYI, Cucculelli M, Lamura G. Caregivers' willingness to pay for digital support services: Comparative survey. Health Policy 2023; 130:104751. [PMID: 36857837 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2023.104751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Considering the substantial information needs experienced by informal caregivers, the increased availability of digital support services for caregivers as well as the potential they offer, further understanding of caregivers' willingness to pay for digital support services is needed. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to identify associations between informal caregiver's characteristics and their willingness to pay for digital support services in two countries: Italy and Sweden. METHODS A sample of 378 respondents participated in a cross-sectional survey. Respondents were recruited by the Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing and the Swedish Family Care Competence Centre. A two-part regression model was used. In the first part, logistic regression analysis was applied to investigate the association between willingness to pay and sets of independent variables (caregiver's demographics, caregiver's socioeconomic resources and caregiving context). In the second part, a generalized linear model (log-link and gamma distribution) was applied to determine the adjusted mean willingness to pay. RESULTS More than half of the participants from both countries of our study were willing to pay out of pocket for digital support services. A recommendation by a healthcare professional was the top factor that may motivate caregivers' willingness to pay an additional amount for a paid version of a digital support service. In both countries, the majority of the respondents believe that the government should allocate more funds for digital support services and for improving digital infrastructures. Caregiver' s gender, care recipient relationship to the caregiver, care duration, the total household income and the amount spent per month on professional caregiving services are all associated with willingness to pay. For every additional 10 Euro increase in the amount spent per month on professional caregiving services, the odds of willingness to pay an additional Euro for a digital support service increased by 0.60 % in the Italian sample (p= 0.002, 95% CI: 1.002, 1.009) and 0.31% in the Swedish sample (p=0.015, 95% CI: 1.006, 1.057). CONCLUSIONS Factors such as demographics, socioeconomic resources and the caregiving context may play a role in caregivers' willingness to pay for digital support services. The digital and social divide may negatively affect caregivers' willingness to pay for digital support services. Policy makers and insurance providers should consider innovative policies to fund digital support services that have been shown to be effective at supporting and improving caregivers' health outcomes via subsidies or other incentives. Future research that evaluates the cost-effectiveness of digital support services is needed in a context of a growing number of informal caregivers and ever scarcer resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alhassan Yosri Ibrahim Hassan
- INRCA IRCCS - National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, Ancona, Italy; Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Faculty of Economics "Giorgio Fuà", Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Marco Cucculelli
- Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Faculty of Economics "Giorgio Fuà", Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Lamura
- INRCA IRCCS - National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, Ancona, Italy
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Collaborative Learning through a Virtual Community of Practice in Dementia Care Support: A Scoping Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11050692. [PMID: 36900696 PMCID: PMC10001025 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11050692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this scoping review was to identify, synthesize, and report research on reflective collaborative learning through virtual communities of practice (vCoP), which, to our knowledge, is scarce. A second aim was to identify, synthesize, and report research on the facilitators and barriers associated with resilience capacity and knowledge acquisition through vCoP. The literature was searched in PsycINFO, CINAHL, Medline, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews (ScR) framework guided the review. Ten studies were included in the review, seven quantitative and three qualitative studies, written in English and published from January 2017 to February 2022. The data were synthesized using a numerical descriptive summary and qualitative thematic analysis. Two themes: 'knowledge acquisition' and 'strengthening resilience capacity' emerged. The literature synthesis provides evidence of a vCoP as a digital space that supports knowledge acquisition and strengthens resilience for persons with dementia, and their informal and formal caregivers. Hence, the use of vCoP seems to be useful for dementia care support. Further studies including less developed countries are, however, needed to enable generalizability of the concept of vCoP across countries.
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Hassan AYI, Bronzini M, Lamura G. Digital technologies as sources of information for patients and caregivers during COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey. Digit Health 2023; 9:20552076231156214. [PMID: 36908378 PMCID: PMC9996721 DOI: 10.1177/20552076231156214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a significant impact on the global economy, society, and healthcare systems. Little is known about the role of digital technologies as sources of information for patients and informal caregivers during COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the substantial information needs experienced by informal caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic, further understanding of caregivers' use of digital technologies to access COVID-19 information is needed. Objective The aim of this study is to identify associations between informal caregiver's characteristics and the use of digital technologies to seek COVID-19 information in two countries with two different care systems: Italy (family based care system) and Sweden (universal care system) in order to determine whether factors such as demographics, socioeconomic resources, and the caregiving context may influence caregivers' use of these technologies during the pandemic. Methods A sample of 500 respondents participated in a cross-sectional survey by completing the online questionnaire. Respondents were recruited by the Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing and the Swedish Family Care Competence Centre. Logistic regression model was used to investigate the association between the use of digital technologies to seek COVID-19 information and the independent variables. Results The multivariate analysis for the Italian sample indicated that female caregivers had two times the odds of use of digital technologies compared with males (p = 0.010, 95% CI 1.191 to 3.701). The odds of use were 2.3 times higher when the level of dependency of the care recipient on the caregiver is low compared with a high level of dependency (p = 0.029, 95% CI 1.090 to 4.858). In the Swedish group, respondents who spent less than 10 h per week providing care were almost three times more likely to use digital technologies as opposed to those who dedicate more than 40 h per week to care provision (p = 0.039, 95% CI 0.133 to 0.951). Caregivers in the age group 40-59 years were 2.7 times more likely to use digital technologies in comparison with those of the age group 60 + years (p = 0.033, 95% CI 1.083 to 6.494). Perceiving a lack of awareness about available online resources that support caregivers in their role during the pandemic was the top challenge mentioned by the participants in both countries in using digital technologies to access information during the pandemic. The study revealed that the most used sources of online COVID-19 information for Italian caregivers were social media platforms and mobile apps, while in the case of the Swedish caregivers, online portals and apps published by state, regional, or municipal authorities were the most used sources. Italian participants in the study perceived less reliability in the online COVID-19 information than their Swedish counterparts. Conclusions Digital technologies are used by patients and their caregivers to seek information relevant to the pandemic. Because digital technologies are becoming a popular and accessible information source, medical professionals should consider the differences between caregivers' age groups when delivering information online. Strategies aiming to address the spread of misinformation on social media and online platforms are needed to fight infodemic. Governments should consider innovative policies that promote formal certification of online platforms and apps on the basis of their reliability. As digitalization of healthcare systems continues, efforts are needed to ensure different populations of patients and their caregivers are supported to obtain timely accurate information that meets their needs. An inclusive approach in the digitalization of healthcare systems may reduce inequalities in access to technology. Consequently, technology itself may over time become a tool in reducing such inequalities by empowering underserved or underrepresented populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alhassan Yosri Ibrahim Hassan
- Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, INRCA IRCCS, Italian National Institute of Health & Science on Ageing, Ancona, Italy.,Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Faculty of Economics "Giorgio Fuà", Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Micol Bronzini
- Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Faculty of Economics "Giorgio Fuà", Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Lamura
- Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, INRCA IRCCS, Italian National Institute of Health & Science on Ageing, Ancona, Italy
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Masterson-Algar P, Egan K, Flynn G, Hughes G, Spector A, Stott J, Windle G. iSupport for Young Carers: An Adaptation of an e-Health Intervention for Young Dementia Carers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:127. [PMID: 36612450 PMCID: PMC9819145 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Young dementia carers need to be recognised and supported in their role. They need help to understand the illness, what changes are expected and how it can affect their family member. Many support services, partly due to the COVID pandemic, have moved online and have been shown to be acceptable as they are low cost and reduce access barriers. iSupport is an evidence-informed e-health training programme developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to support adult dementia carers. This paper reports on the co-design of an adapted version of iSupport for young carers. A theoretically driven co-design approach, drawing on the lived experiences of young dementia carers and experts who work with this target group was followed. As a result of this study iSupport for Young Carers was created. It is the first e-health intervention of its kind and aims to support the mental health, knowledge and skills of young dementia carers. In turn, it could improve the quality of the support that service providers can offer, and this can result in increased levels of identification of these young people. The work presented also provides opportunities for other countries and demographic groups to translate and adapt iSupport for Young Carers to their specific cultural context.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kieren Egan
- Department of Computer and Information Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G11 XH, UK
| | - Greg Flynn
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2EF, UK
| | - Gwenllian Hughes
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2EF, UK
| | - Aimee Spector
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Joshua Stott
- Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Gill Windle
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2EF, UK
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Bailey C, Guo P, MacArtney J, Finucane A, Swan S, Meade R, Wagstaff E. The Experiences of Informal Carers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13455. [PMID: 36294030 PMCID: PMC9603569 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify, critically appraise and synthesise the qualitative literature on the experiences of informal carers of people with long-term conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN A qualitative systematic literature review. DATA SOURCES Eight electronic databases were systematically searched (Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PubMed, PsychINFO, Web of Science, Nursing and Allied Health and ASSIA) along with Google Scholar and handsearching via secondary sources. STUDY SELECTION Eligible studies had to include the experiences of informal carers (adults who are 65 or older), use a qualitative methodology and had to be written in English. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Retrieved papers were quality assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme qualitative checklist and ranked for quality. Thematic analysis was used to synthesise the findings. RESULTS Fourteen studies were included, all from medical or nursing journals (n = 5 specifically gerontology). Four main themes were identified: (i) fear, (ii) uncertainty, (iii) burden and (iv) staying connected. Caregiving demands have increased for carers during the pandemic, as well as negative emotions such as fear and uncertainty. At the same time, less social support has been available, leading to concerns about carers' wellbeing and ability to cope. CONCLUSION Carers' needs have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Greater practical and emotional support is needed for carers from both formal services and community sources that considers their changing needs and offers educational and emotional support for long-term wellbeing. Strengths and Limitations: (1) This is the first systematic review to explore in depth the experiences of informal carers caring for people with a range of long-term conditions and from an international context. (2) The review includes an analysis of the quality of the studies, as well as a study of their relative contributions. (3) Further research is needed to explore the physical, emotional and financial impact of the pandemic for bereaved carers which is not captured in this review due to the lack of empirical data available at the time of review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara Bailey
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Ping Guo
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - John MacArtney
- Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Anne Finucane
- Clinical Psychology, School of Health in Social Science, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK
- Marie Curie Hospice Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH10 7DR, UK
| | - Susan Swan
- Maggie’s Glasgow, Gartnavel Hospital, 1053 Great Western Road, Glasgow G12 OYN, UK
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Hvalič‐Touzery S, Dolničar V, Prevodnik K. Factors influencing informal carers' acceptance of assistive telecare systems in the pre- and post-implementation phase: A scoping study. HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY 2022; 30:e1484-e1504. [PMID: 35574935 PMCID: PMC9541532 DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Assistive telecare systems (ATSs) have great potential to be beneficial for informal carers (ICs) providing long-term care to older people (OP). However, little is known about ATS acceptance among ICs. This scoping study aims to investigate various factors that influence the ICs' acceptance of ATSs over time in the pre- and post-implementation phases. A five-stage scoping study was conducted. A systematic search of five bibliographic databases (Science Direct, Scopus, CINAHL, PubMED and Proquest Social Sciences Database) was conducted in September 2020, supplemented by a round of grey literature searches. Using the established selection criteria, 37 publications published between 2000 and September 2020 were included. The data were analysed with Atlas.ti 8 using content-based analysis and a combination of deductive and inductive approaches. The results show that work on understanding acceptance of ATS only gained wider attention after 2010. Seven key factors of ATS acceptance were identified: benefits and concerns about ATS, care situation, the influence of the OP, carer characteristics, perceived need to use and social influence. Several subfactors were also found. The post-intervention acceptance factors were found to be more nuanced than the pre-implementation factors, indicating that first-hand experience with ATSs enabled study participants to provide a more tangible, extensive and in-depth overview of the various ATS acceptance factors. This scoping review is useful for ATS developers, providers, health and social care scholars and practitioners, policy makers and commissioners, all of whom seek to improve and facilitate the provision of long-term care in the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Hvalič‐Touzery
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Centre for Social InformaticsUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Vesna Dolničar
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Centre for Social InformaticsUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljanaSlovenia
| | - Katja Prevodnik
- Faculty of Social Sciences, Centre for Social InformaticsUniversity of LjubljanaLjubljanaSlovenia
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Ottaviani AC, Monteiro DQ, Ferreira Campos CR, Barham EJ, Oliveira D, da Cruz KCT, Corrêa L, de Souza Orlandi F, Zazzetta MS, Gratão ACM, Pavarini SCI. ISupport-Brasil: Preliminary results of the usability and acceptability assessment by caregivers of people who have dementia. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:981748. [PMID: 36059826 PMCID: PMC9433833 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.981748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To assess usability and acceptability of iSupport-Brasil (iSupport-BR) to virtually support family caregivers of people who have dementia. Materials and methods In the first stage, nine caregivers/former caregivers assessed the interface of the platform that hosts iSupport-BR. In the second stage, 10 caregivers assessed acceptability of the platform and answered the System Usability Scale (SUS), which varies from 0 to 100 points. A descriptive analysis of the quantitative data was performed, as well as a thematic analysis on the open questions. All the ethical aspects were respected. Results The results of the first stage indicated a user-friendly interface of the system and relevant content of the program, with 55.6 and 77.8% of the participants assigning the maximum grade to these questions, respectively. Of the five possible points, the system's mean score was 3.7. In Stage 2, 80% of the caregivers rated the program as very useful and 100% would recommend it to other caregivers. Perception of the program's usability by the SUS scale was excellent (M = 86.5 ± 11.5). Conclusion This research allowed elaborating the final version of iSupport-BR, considering usability and acceptability of the platform and the program for computers/notebooks, being a pioneer in evaluating it for use in smartphones. Future research studies will have to assess the effects of iSupport-BR on the caregivers' mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carolina Ottaviani
- Department of Gerontology, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Diana Quirino Monteiro
- Department of Gerontology, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Elizabeth Joan Barham
- Postgraduate Programme in Psychology, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Psychology, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Déborah Oliveira
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Larissa Corrêa
- Postgraduate Programme in Nursing, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabiana de Souza Orlandi
- Department of Gerontology, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
- Postgraduate Programme in Nursing, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marisa Silvana Zazzetta
- Department of Gerontology, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
- Postgraduate Programme in Nursing, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aline Cristina Martins Gratão
- Department of Gerontology, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
- Postgraduate Programme in Nursing, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sofia Cristina Iost Pavarini
- Department of Gerontology, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
- Postgraduate Programme in Nursing, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
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22
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Leung AYM, Cheung T, Fong TKH, Zhao IY, Kabir ZN. The Use of an Electronic Painting Platform by Family Caregivers of Persons with Dementia: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10050870. [PMID: 35628007 PMCID: PMC9141057 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10050870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Painting is a well-known method for alleviating stress, but it is uncertain whether family caregivers can use an electronic painting platform at home for this purpose. Aim. The aim in this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of having family caregivers of persons with dementia (FCPWD) draw electronic paintings using a mobile app, and to assess the preliminary effect of the intervention on their well-being. Methods. This was a two-phase feasibility and acceptability study, with qualitative interviews conducted in Phase 1 and qualitative interviews and a quantitative survey conducted in Phase 2. Caregiving burden, depressive symptoms, self-rated health, and social support were measured before and after the intervention. Participants were asked to draw electronic paintings at any time they liked, and to share the paintings with friends or relatives if they wished. Result. The recruitment rate in Phase 2 was 87.5% (28 out of 32), with 78.6% participants (22 out 28) completing all activities in 8 weeks. The FCPWD regarded the e-painting app as an appropriate channel for expressing their emotions. They found the layout of the app to be easy to use and were satisfied with it. A total of 116 pictures were produced. Log-in frequency was significantly correlated with the sharing of paintings with friends or relatives (r = 0.72, p < 0.001). Conclusion. FCPWD considered the e-painting mobile app to be a feasible and acceptable technology-based psychosocial platform. A further investigation with a larger sample in a full-scale randomized controlled trial is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Y. M. Leung
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China; (T.C.); (I.Y.Z.)
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services (WHOCC), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China
- Centre for Gerontological Nursing (CGN), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +852-2766-5587
| | - Teris Cheung
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China; (T.C.); (I.Y.Z.)
| | - Tommy K. H. Fong
- Centre for Gerontological Nursing (CGN), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China;
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Ivy Y. Zhao
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China; (T.C.); (I.Y.Z.)
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Health Services (WHOCC), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Zarina N. Kabir
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, 14183 Stockholm, Sweden;
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Hassan AYI, Lamura G, Hagedoorn M. Predictors of digital support services use by informal caregivers: a cross-sectional comparative survey. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e059897. [PMID: 35487716 PMCID: PMC9058775 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Digital support services may provide informal caregivers with remote access to information and training about care issues. However, there is limited specific data on how factors such as demographics, socioeconomic resources and the caregiving context may influence caregivers' use of digital support services. The aim of this study is to identify associations between informal caregiver's characteristics and the use of the internet to access digital support services in two countries: Italy and Sweden. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS A sample of 663 respondents who have access to the internet participated in a cross-sectional survey by completing the online questionnaire. Respondents were recruited by the Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing and the Swedish Family Care Competence Centre. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess predictors of caregivers' frequent use of the internet to access digital support services. RESULTS Educational attainment (OR 3.649, 95% CI 1.424 to 9.350, p=0.007), hours per week spent caring (OR 2.928, 95% CI 1.481 to 5.791, p=0.002), total household income (OR 0.378, 95% CI 0.149 to 0.957, p=0.040), care recipient relationship to the caregiver (OR 2.895, 95% CI 1.037 to 8.083, p=0.042) and gender of care recipient (OR 0.575, 95% CI 0.356 to 0.928, p=0.023) were significant predictors in the multivariate analysis for the Italian caregivers group. Hours per week spent caring (OR 2.401, 95% CI 1.105 to 5.218, p=0.027) and age of caregiver (OR 2.237, 95% CI 1.150 to 4.352, p=0.018) were significant predictors in the multivariate analysis for the Swedish caregivers group. CONCLUSIONS Digital support services could be important tools to empower informal caregivers. When it comes to policy and practice in relation to caregivers, similarly to other broad vulnerable groups, there is no 'one-size-fits-all' approach, and it is therefore important to consider the specific characteristics and needs of both caregivers and care recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alhassan Yosri Ibrahim Hassan
- Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, INRCA IRCCS, Italian National Institute of Health & Science on Ageing, Ancona, Italy
- Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Faculty of Economics "Giorgio Fuà", Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giovanni Lamura
- Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, INRCA IRCCS, Italian National Institute of Health & Science on Ageing, Ancona, Italy
| | - Mariët Hagedoorn
- University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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Semonella M, Andersson G, Dekel R, Pietrabissa G, Vilchinsky N. Making a Virtue Out of Necessity: COVID-19 as a Catalyst for Applying Internet-Based Psychological Interventions for Informal Caregivers. Front Psychol 2022; 13:856016. [PMID: 35465576 PMCID: PMC9022647 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.856016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Gerhard Andersson
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rachel Dekel
- School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Giada Pietrabissa
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Psychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Milan, Italy
| | - Noa Vilchinsky
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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Randine P, Sharma A, Hartvigsen G, Johansen HD, Årsand E. Information and Communication Technology-based Interventions for Chronic Diseases Consultation: Scoping Review. Int J Med Inform 2022; 163:104784. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2022.104784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Tennant R, Allana S, Mercer K, Burns CM. Exploring the Experiences of Family Caregivers of Children With Special Health Care Needs to Inform the Design of Digital Health Systems: Formative Qualitative Study. JMIR Form Res 2022; 6:e28895. [PMID: 34989692 PMCID: PMC8771348 DOI: 10.2196/28895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Family caregivers of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) are responsible for managing and communicating information regarding their child's health in their homes. Although family caregivers currently capture information through nondigital methods, digital health care applications are a promising solution for supporting the standardization of information management in complex home care across their child's health care team. However, family caregivers continue to use paper-based methods where the adoption of digital health care tools is low. With the rise in home care for children with complex health care needs, it is important to understand the caregiving work domain to inform the design of technologies that support child safety in the home. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to explore how family caregivers navigate information management and communication in complex home care for CSHCN. METHODS This research is part of a broader study to explore caregivers' perspectives on integrating and designing digital health care tools for complex home care. The broader study included interviews and surveys about designing a voice user interface to support home care. This formative study explored semistructured interview data with family caregivers of CSHCN about their home care situations. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze the information management and communication processes. RESULTS We collected data from 7 family caregivers in North America and identified 5 themes. First, family caregivers were continuously learning to provide care. They were also updating the caregiver team on their child's status and teaching caregivers about their care situation. As caregiving teams grew, they found themselves working on communicating with their children's educators. Beyond the scope of managing their child's health information, family caregivers also navigated bureaucratic processes for their child's home care. CONCLUSIONS Family caregivers' experiences of caring for CSHCN differ contextually and evolve as their child's condition changes and they grow toward adulthood. Family caregivers recorded information using paper-based tools, which did not sufficiently support information management. They also experienced significant pressure in summarizing information and coordinating 2-way communication about the details of their child's health with caregivers. The design of digital health care systems and tools for complex home care may improve care coordination if they provide an intuitive method for information interaction and significant utility by delivering situation-specific insights and adapting to unique and dynamic home care environments. Although these findings provide a foundational understanding, there is an opportunity for further research to generalize the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Tennant
- Department of Systems Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Sana Allana
- Department of Systems Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Kate Mercer
- Department of Systems Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.,Library, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Catherine M Burns
- Department of Systems Design Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
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Perez H, Neubauer N, Marshall S, Philip S, Miguel-Cruz A, Liu L. Barriers and Benefits of Information Communication Technologies Used by Health Care Aides. Appl Clin Inform 2022; 13:270-286. [PMID: 35263800 PMCID: PMC8906996 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1743238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although information and communication technologies (ICT) are becoming more common among health care providers, there is little evidence on how ICT can support health care aides. Health care aides, also known as personal care workers, are unlicensed service providers who encompass the second largest workforce, next to nurses, that provide care to older adults in Canada. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this literature review is to examine the range and extent of barriers and benefits of ICT used by health care workers to manage and coordinate the care-delivery workflow for their clients. METHODS We conducted a literature review to examine the range and extent of ICT used by health care aides to manage and coordinate their care delivery, workflow, and activities. We identified 8,958 studies of which 40 were included for descriptive analyses. RESULTS We distinguished the following five different purposes for the use and implementation of ICT by health care aides: (1) improve everyday work, (2) access electronic health records for home care, (3) facilitate client assessment and care planning, (4) enhance communication, and (5) provide care remotely. We identified 128 barriers and 130 benefits related to adopting ICT. Most of the barriers referred to incomplete hardware and software features, time-consuming ICT adoption, heavy or increased workloads, perceived lack of usefulness of ICT, cost or budget restrictions, security and privacy concerns, and lack of integration with technologies. The benefits for health care aides' adoption of ICT were improvements in communication, support to workflows and processes, improvements in resource planning and health care aides' services, and improvements in access to information and documentation. CONCLUSION Health care aides are an essential part of the health care system. They provide one-on-one care to their clients in everyday tasks. Despite the scarce information related to health care aides, we identified many benefits of ICT adoption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hector Perez
- School of Publich Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo (ON), Canada
| | - Noelannah Neubauer
- School of Publich Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo (ON), Canada
| | - Samantha Marshall
- School of Publich Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo (ON), Canada
| | - Serrina Philip
- School of Publich Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo (ON), Canada
| | - Antonio Miguel-Cruz
- School of Publich Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo (ON), Canada.,Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Edmonton (AB), Canada.,Department of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton (AB), Canada
| | - Lili Liu
- School of Publich Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Waterloo, Waterloo (ON), Canada
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Teles S, Paúl C, Lima P, Chilro R, Ferreira A. User feedback and usability testing of an online training and support program for dementia carers. Internet Interv 2021; 25:100412. [PMID: 34401371 PMCID: PMC8350591 DOI: 10.1016/j.invent.2021.100412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND eHealth interventions have been explored to provide convenient support and training to informal dementia carers. Design and usability issues may however hinder user acceptance of Web-based interventions. iSupport is an online program developed by World Health Organization (WHO) to support informal dementia carers. PURPOSE This study gathers user-feedback and evaluates the usability of the European-Portuguese version of iSupport. METHODS A mixed-methods study was conducted. Two focus groups discussions (n = 15) and 15 usability test sessions were conducted with carers and health/social support professionals to collect data on user satisfaction and requirements on the program's contents and Web interface. The usability testing protocol comprised pre/post-test surveys, a structured interview and observation of task performance in the Web platform. Content analysis of text data was performed by two independent coders. RESULTS Success rates were superior to 80% for most tasks. An average score of 89.5 on the System Usability Scale demonstrated an excellent perception of the program's usability. The program was perceived as trustworthy, and participants were globally satisfied with its aesthetics and easiness of use. Feedback and personalization were valued functional requirements, while no consensus was found for mood self-assessment or professional/peer interaction features. Lessons were considered culturally fit, thematically pertinent, and comprehensive. Suggestions for improvement were wide-ranging from program's layout to accessibility, usability, functional requirements, content format and lessons' themes. CONCLUSIONS This study derives user requirements for an evidence-based program for dementia carers. Both the study findings and usability assessment methodology can be imported to the development of similar programs worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soraia Teles
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP), Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- Corresponding author at: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto (ICBAS-UP), Departamento de Ciências do Comportamento, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Constança Paúl
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), Department of Behavioral Sciences, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | | | | | - Ana Ferreira
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto (FMUP), Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Dr. Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
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