Zhang Y, Stayt L, Sutherland S, Greenway K. How clinicians make decisions for patient management plans in telehealth.
J Adv Nurs 2024;
80:3516-3532. [PMID:
38380577 DOI:
10.1111/jan.16104]
[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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
AIM
This systematic integrative literature review explores how clinicians make decisions for patient management plans in telehealth.
BACKGROUND
Telehealth is a modality of care that has gained popularity due to the development of digital technology and the COVID-19 pandemic. It is recognized that telehealth, compared to traditional clinical settings, carries a higher risk to patients due to its virtual characteristics. Even though the landscape of healthcare service is increasingly moving towards virtual systems, the decision-making process in telehealth remains not fully understood.
DESIGN
A systematic integrative review.
DATA SOURCES
Databases include CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, Academic Search Complete, PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar.
REVIEW METHODS
This systematic integrative review method was informed by Whittemore and Knafl (2005). The databases were initially searched with keywords in November 2022 and then repeated in October 2023. Thematic synthesis was conducted to analyse and synthesize the data.
RESULTS
The search identified 382 articles. After screening, only 10 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included. Five studies were qualitative, one quantitative and four were mixed methods. Five main themes relevant to decision-making processes in telehealth were identified: characteristics of decision-making in telehealth, patient factor, clinician factor, CDSS factor and external influencing factor.
CONCLUSIONS
The decision-making process in telehealth is a complicated cognitive process influenced by multi-faceted components, including patient factors, clinician factors, external influencing factors and technological factors.
IMPACT
Telehealth carries higher risk and uncertainty than face-to-face encounters. CDSS, rather than bringing unification and clarity, seems to bring more divergence and ambiguity. Some of the clinical reasoning processes in telehealth remain unknown and need to be verbalized and made transparent, to prepare junior clinicians with skills to minimize risks associated with telehealth.
PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION
Not applicable.
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