A randomized controlled study about the use of eHealth in the home health care of premature infants

Abstract

BackgroundOne area where the use of information and communication technology (ICT), or eHealth, could be developed is the home health care of premature infants. The aim of this randomized controlled study was to investigate whether the use of video conferencing or a web application improves parents’ satisfaction in taking care of a premature infant at home and decreases the need of home visits. In addition, nurses’ attitudes regarding the use of these tools were examined.MethodThirty-four families were randomized to one of three groups before their premature infant was discharged from the hospital to home health care: a control group receiving standard home health care (13 families); a web group receiving home health care supplemented with the use of a web application (12 families); a video group with home health care supplemented with video conferencing using Skype (9 families). Families and nursing staff answered questionnaires about the usefulness of ICT. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 families.ResultsAll the parents in the web group found the web application easy to use. 83% of the families thought it was good to have access to their child’s data through the application. All the families in the video group found Skype easy to use and were satisfied with the video calls. 88% of the families thought that video calls were better than ordinary phone calls. 33% of the families in the web group and 75% of those in the video group thought the need for home visits was decreased by the web application or Skype. 50% of the families in the web group and 100% of those in the video group thought the web application or the video calls had helped them feel more confident in caring for their child. Most of the nurses were motivated to use ICT but some were reluctant and avoided using the web application and video conferencing.ConclusionThe families were satisfied with both the web application and video conferencing. The families readily embraced the use of ICT, whereas motivating some of the nurses to accept and use ICT was a major challenge.

Patient Perceptions of Telehealth Primary Care Video Visits

“…[1][2][3] Telehealth in its many forms offers conveniences including increased care accessibility, decreased transportation barriers, and patient empowerment. [4][5][6][7][8] Studies of video visits have demonstrated these benefits in specialty settings including wound care, prenatal genetic screening, family planning, cardiovascular care, and home care. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15] One study of patient experiences with video visits in rural areas found that they were associated with decreased travel costs and lost time/wages, increased access to social support, and better ability to tailor care delivery to patient and family needs.…”

Advantages and limitations of virtual online consultations in a NHS acute trust: the VOCAL mixed-methods study

“…All found the technology easy to use, noting that virtual consultations were better than telephone calls. 131 Tellingly, the authors commented that 'The families readily embraced the use of ICT [information, communication and technology], whereas motivating some of the nurses to accept and use ICT was a major challenge', 131 raising questions about the ways in which virtual media might be embedded in clinical work.…”

Aplikasi Mobile–Health sebagai Upaya Peningkatan Kualitas Pelayanan Keperawatan Anak dengan Penyakit Kronis pada Setting Home Hospital

“…Klien juga bisa dengan mudah mengetahui perawatan apa yang akan diberikan hari ini, sekaligus bisa terlibat aktif dalam penentuan rencana perawatan melalui respon interaktif perawat-klien (Hogan, et al, 2011;Abramson, et al, 2012). Melalui hubungan interaktif ini klien dan keluarga akan merasa diperhatikan dan mampu meningkatkan angka kepuasan klien (Gund et al, 2013). Mobile-health juga mampu berkontribusi terhadap penekanan angka re-admisi melalui pemberian intervensi dini pada klien (Sheridan, 2012).…”

“…Mobile-health merupakan hasil pengembangan dari eHealth yang menggunakan komputer sebagai perangkat keras komunikasi dan dokumentasi yang terintegrasi antar anggota pelayanan kesehatan (Gund, et al, 2013). Aplikasi teknologi ini menuai kritik karena dianggap menyulitkan mayoritas tenaga keperawatan yang belum terbiasa dengan penggunaan teknologi informasi (Ridgway, et al, 2011).…”