Patient experiences and implications for consultation outcomes and treatment adherence using mHealth applications among health care professionals (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zuhal Kathy Keeling

BACKGROUND mHealth is a broad term for the use of mobile communication devices for healthcare services delivery. The use of mobile devices by health care professionals (HCPs) has transformed many aspects of clinical training and practice. However, there are still gaps in knowledge concerning patient perception of the use of mHealth technologies by HCP during secondary care consultations. OBJECTIVE To explore the impact on patient experience and implications for consultation outcomes and treatment adherence. Introduction of new technological application into interactions that have very set expectations and roles and possibility for attendant disruption of patient expectations. METHODS This paper explores, via in-depth interviews, patient opinions regarding the usage of mHealth applications by health care professionals (HCPs) during consultations, identifying the paradoxes and coping behaviors to deal with those paradoxes. This qualitative study recruited ten respondents using purposive sampling and snowballing techniques through in-depth interviews. RESULTS The results comprise paradoxes and coping behaviors. They showed that convenience, time savings, accuracy of diagnosis and reduction of errors are the important elements for using mHealth for both HCP and patient. In addition, respondents perceived that mobile health apps facilitate HCP engagement of patients and assist explanations and better patient understanding. Interaction and the quality of the interaction were acknowledged as significant in HCP-patient communication and patient compliance with treatment. CONCLUSIONS To sum, many patients were responsive to the idea of mHealth, both by the doctor and themselves, but wanted to have regulation of use of apps, better involvement and explanations and not have the doctor lose focus on the patient, that is, the feeling of personalized treatment. They also were worried that the HCP might seem to ignore the patient or withdraw from the type of interaction that makes the consultation ‘human.’

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 994-1005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolores Angela Castelli Dransart

The objective of this study is to identify patterns (components and processes) of reconstruction of suicide survivors. In-depth interviews were conducted with 50 survivors of suicide in Switzerland. Data were analyzed using ATLAS.ti and according to the Grounded Theory principles. Survivors of suicide face four major challenges: dealing with the impact of suicide, searching for meaning, clarifying responsibility, and finding a personal style of reaction and coping. The various ways in which survivors fare through the specific processes of the challenges result in various patterns of reconstruction: the vulnerability, transformation, commitment, and hard blow. The unique characteristics and dynamics of each of them are highlighted. Health care providers would benefit from an approach based on the dynamics of the various patterns of reconstruction in providing appropriate support to survivors of suicide.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. iv28-iv33
Author(s):  
Shaun Lee ◽  
Pei-Lee Teh

Abstract Introduction The world’s population worldwide is greying, and it is important that health care professionals such as pharmacists are able to gain proficiency in working with older adults who may be suffering from both physical and mental illnesses. One of the challenges for many schools that offer healthcare related courses is the need to support continued empathy towards this ageing population so that they can offer better healthcare services. Recently, ageing suits which are an immersive simulation suit designed to simulate the effects of ageing have been introduced to enable nursing students to experience what older adults face in health care situation. Method In this randomised controlled study, all year 1 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Pharmacy course (n=120) at our institution were assigned to either a polypharmacy only workshop or use an ageing suit together with polypharmacy workshop (intervention). The intervention group was tasked to perform a series of exercises, including walking a flight of stairs, picking up a coin as well as filling up a form. All participants completed the Jefferson Empathy Scale and semi-structured questionnaire. Results At the end of exercise, intervention group participants had a marginal improvement in their self-reported empathy levels, with an improvement of 1.7 +14.5 points compared to 1.2 + 9.4 points in control (p=0.81). Participants in the intervention reported changes in physical performance consistent with the expected changes associated with ageing. They also reported a change in attitude and were able to empathize better with older adults especially on issues related to patient communication. Conclusion As such, future research should also include and involve a wider range of students to ensure that they become health advocates for the health care needs of older adults. This will enable them to deliver better healthcare services to meet the needs of the older adults.


2002 ◽  
Vol 65 (8) ◽  
pp. 374-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie Britton ◽  
Ann Moore

This is the first of a trilogy of articles that presents the experiences and perspectives of 46 families about what it is like to live with and care for a child with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). An independent professional recruited the children from a random sample of families who attended consecutive outpatient appointments at the juvenile arthritis clinic and who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Qualitative and quantitative data from self-completion questionnaires, transcripts from semi-structured interviews with family members in their homes, family-filmed video diaries, and diaries written by siblings and children with arthritis were analysed. These different types of data were gathered over 18 months in order to collect information about the fluctuating nature of this disease and the impact of this changeability on family members. Part 1 concentrates on a brief presentation of relevant literature, presents a simplified map of the findings and introduces the families' early experiences of seeking and coping with the diagnosis of JIA. The article explores the myth that arthritis only affects elderly and infirm people, explains the mirage effect and discusses the significance of different routes to diagnosis. The majority of the families felt that these early events had a significant, sometimes considerable, impact upon how they coped later, including how they related subsequently to health care professionals and engaged with continuing prescribed health care programmes. The findings report the families' experiences as recipients of health care by many different professionals and relate to their recollection and interpretation of events. Research into the professionals' perspectives would be illuminating but did not fall within the scope of the present study. The experiences of families of children with arthritis are shared by families of children with other chronic conditions and by other carers and service users.


2021 ◽  
pp. 104365962110179
Author(s):  
Isaac Okello Wonyima ◽  
Susan Fowler-Kerry ◽  
Grace Nambozi ◽  
Charlotte Barry ◽  
Jeanie Wills ◽  
...  

Introduction According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ebola has affected the lives of thousands, including health care workers. With few studies describing the experience of nurses who survived Ebola, the study aimed to describe Ugandan nurses’ experiences. Method Using a phenomenological design, in-depth interviews were conducted among five Ugandan nurses who contracted Ebola and survived. Result Thematic analysis revealed themes of expectations of dying, hopelessness, loneliness, and betrayal by family, community, and the health system. Discussion Results support the need for policies targeting holistic practice protocols to protect all health care professionals during future outbreaks. Last, nursing survivors should have access to government-guaranteed support programs, including free health care and financial stipends. These results and recommendations transcend to the current reality of living with COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). Efficient practice protocols could protect all rights and privileges and contribute to access to treatment and stigma removal.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnes T. Black ◽  
Marla Steinberg ◽  
Amanda E. Chisholm ◽  
Kristi Coldwell ◽  
Alison M. Hoens ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The KT Challenge program supports health care professionals to effectively implement evidence-based practices. Unlike other knowledge translation (KT) programs, this program is grounded in capacity building, focuses on health care professionals (HCPs), and uses a multi-component intervention. This study presents the evaluation of the KT Challenge program to assess the impact on uptake, KT capacity, and practice change. Methods The evaluation used a mixed-methods retrospective pre-post design involving surveys and review of documents such as teams’ final reports. Online surveys collecting both quantitative and qualitative data were deployed at four time points (after both workshops, 6 months into implementation, and at the end of the 2-year funded projects) to measure KT capacity (knowledge, skills, and confidence) and impact on practice change. Qualitative data was analyzed using a general inductive approach and quantitative data was analyzed using non-parametric statistics. Results Participants reported statistically significant increases in knowledge and confidence across both workshops, at the 6-month mark of their projects, and at the end of their projects. In addition, at the 6-month check-in, practitioners reported statistically significant improvements in their ability to implement practice changes. In the first cohort of the program, of the teams who were able to complete their projects, half were able to show demonstrable practice changes. Conclusions The KT Challenge was successful in improving the capacity of HCPs to implement evidence-based practice changes and has begun to show demonstrable improvements in a number of practice areas. The program is relevant to a variety of HCPs working in diverse practice settings and is relatively inexpensive to implement. Like all practice improvement programs in health care settings, a number of challenges emerged stemming from the high turnover of staff and the limited capacity of some practitioners to take on anything beyond direct patient care. Efforts to address these challenges have been added to subsequent cohorts of the program and ongoing evaluation will examine if they are successful. The KT Challenge program has continued to garner great interest among practitioners, even in the midst of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, and shows promise for organizations looking for better ways to mobilize knowledge to improve patient care and empower staff. This study contributes to the implementation science literature by providing a description and evaluation of a new model for embedding KT practice skills in health care settings.


2021 ◽  
pp. 003329412199777
Author(s):  
Robin Besse ◽  
Whitney K. Whitaker ◽  
Laura A. Brannon

While many facets of loneliness have been explored, research examining the efficacy of loneliness interventions has been overlooked among young adults. The study of loneliness among young adults has become increasingly important considering the current state of isolation and stay-at-home orders issued to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Preliminary reports suggest an increase in loneliness as a result of the current health pandemic, especially among young adults, who have reported feeling lonelier than any other age group. Such findings warrant the study of ways to help reduce loneliness among young adults. The current study examined the efficacy of strategies that might be used to help young adults manage feelings of loneliness. Two hundred and seventy-eight young adults completed the study. Participants read one of four messages: mindfulness, social cognitions, coping behaviors, or a control. Participants in the mindfulness condition felt better equipped to manage future instances of loneliness and held better attitudes toward this intervention. The current research helps to advance understanding of effective ways of helping young adults cope with loneliness.


2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Mauldon

This paper reports on the attitudes of a sample of health care providers towards the use of telehealth to support rural patients and integrate rural primary health and urban hospital care. Telehealth and other information technologies hold the promise of improving the quality of care for people in rural and remote areas and for supporting rural primary health care providers. While seemingly beneficial for rural patients, study participants believed that telehealth remains underused and poorly integrated into their practice. In general, participants thought that telehealth is potentially beneficial but places constraints on their activities, and few actually used it. Published literature usually reports either on the success of telehealth pilot projects or initiatives that are well resourced and do not reflect the constraints of routine practice, or has an international focus limiting its relevance to the Australian context. Because of the paucity of systematic and generalisable research into the effects of the routine use of telehealth to support rural patients, it is unclear why health care professionals choose to provide such services or the costs and benefits they incur in doing so. Research and policy initiatives continue to be needed to identify the impact of telehealth within the context of Australian primary health care and to develop strategies to support its use.


2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Connolly ◽  
Joanne M. Thomas ◽  
Julie A. Orford ◽  
Nicola Schofield ◽  
Sigrid Whiteside ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Amarjot Singh Gill ◽  
Nistara Singh Chawla ◽  
Sandeep Singh Saini

Background: The practices of various health-care professionals have been improvised to accommodate the on-going covid-19 pandemic situation. Different guidelines have been set in place to ease the process of re-opening of non-elective healthcare services like out-patient physiotherapy clinics. Although the measures taken should be guided by evidence based information, major consensus amongst practicing therapists needs to guide the India physiotherapy clinics. Objective: To identify and present the opinions of different physiotherapists about the various strategies for re-opening the out-patient physiotherapy clinics. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted. Over 169 participants were selected to participate in the survey according to the pre-decided inclusion and exclusion criteria. The data was collected and saved via google forms. Result and conclusion: A majority of respondents had a consensus over different strategies for re-opening the physiotherapy OPDs. These were regarding different measures to be adapted including modifications in the clinic infrastructure and the practice pattern. This would help in smoothly re-instating the physiotherapy services post the covid-19 lockdown.


2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iram Osman ◽  
Shaista Hamid ◽  
Veena S. Singaram

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health professionals were pushed to the front line of a global health crisis unprepared and resource constrained, which affected their mental well-being.Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on stress and burnout for health professionals training and working in South Africa during the COVID-19 crisis.Setting: The context of the study is the overburdened, under-resourced health care system in South Africa during a global pandemic.Methods: A mixed method framework was adopted for this study. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive analysis and the participants’ qualitative experiences were interpreted using interpretative phenomenological analysis.Results: Forty-seven participants took part in this study. The study found a statistically significant (p 0.05) reduction in stress levels and emotional exhaustion as well as an increase in mindful awareness and feelings of personal accomplishment after the intervention. The participants’ shared experiences were analysed in two parts. The pre-intervention analysis presented with central themes of loss of control and a sense of powerlessness because of COVID-19. The post-intervention analysis comprised themes of a sense of acquired control and empowerment through increased mindfulness.Conclusions: The study found that a brief online MBI can be associated with reduced levels of stress and burnout as well as an increased sense of control and empowerment, felt both personally and professionally, during a global crisis.Contribution: The impact of an online MBI for health care professionals amidst a pandemic has not been previously documented.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document