Gute Technik für ein gutes Leben im Alter?

Background Current challenges in patient care have increased research on technology use in nursing and health care. Digital assistive technologies (DATs) are one option that can be incorporated into care processes. However, how the application of DATs should be introduced to nurses and care professionals must be clarified. No structured and effective education concepts for the patient-oriented integration of DATs in the nursing sector are currently available. Objective This study aims to examine how a structured and guided integration and education concept, herein termed the sensitization, evaluative introduction, qualification, and implementation (SEQI) education concept, can support the integration of DATs into nursing practices. Methods This study used an explanatory, sequential study design with a mixed methods approach. The SEQI intervention was run in 26 long-term care facilities oriented toward older adults in Germany after a 5-day training course in each. The participating care professionals were asked to test 1 of 6 DATs in real-world practice over 3 days. Surveys (n=112) were then administered that recorded the intention to use DATs at 3 measurement points, and guided qualitative interviews with care professionals (n=12) were conducted to evaluate the learning concepts and effects of the intervention. Results As this was a pilot study, no sample size calculation was carried out, and P values were not reported. The participating care professionals were generally willing to integrate DATs—as an additional resource—into nursing processes even before the 4-stage SEQI intervention was presented. However, the intervention provided additional background knowledge and sensitized care professionals to the digital transformation, enabling them to evaluate how DATs fit in the health care sector, what qualifies these technologies for correct application, and what promotes their use. The care professionals expressed specific ideas and requirements for both technology-related education concepts and nursing DATs. Conclusions Actively matching technical support, physical limitations, and patients’ needs is crucial when selecting DATs and integrating them into nursing processes. To this end, using a structured process such as SEQI that strengthens care professionals’ ability to integrate DATs can help improve the benefits of such technology in the health care setting. Practical, application-oriented learning can promote the long-term implementation of DATs.

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Integrating Digital Assistive Technologies Into Care Processes: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

Hofstetter,

Zilezinski,

Behr

et al. 2023

Preprint

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BACKGROUND This study aimed to examine the extent to which a structured and guided integration and education process supports caregivers in care setting nursing homes in integrating digital assistive technologies (DAT) into nursing practices. Hence, qualitative interviews were conducted to explore conditions for success, and quantitative surveys, with accompanying questionnaire surveys on intention to use, were used to capture learning effects and changes. OBJECTIVE Current challenges in the care of patients have increased research activities, with a focus on technologies in nursing. However, how caregivers and nurses can be introduced to digital assistive technologies’ application must be clarified before discussing the application[s] itself. Therefore, the question of how digital assistive technologies can be integrated into nursing processes is discussed. However, structured and effective educational concepts for patient-oriented integration of digital assistive technologies in the nursing sector are currently not available METHODS A sequential-exploratory study design with a mixed-methods approach was selected. Following a complex and structured training concept within 26 institutions of elderly nursing care homes followed by a quantitative assessment, guided qualitative interviews with nurses (n=12) were conducted and supplemented by a quantitative survey using a standardized questionnaire, wherein the learning effects were recorded at three measurement points. The participating nurses were able to test 6 digital and assistive technologies in real world over a period of 3 days. RESULTS The general willingness to integrate digital assistive technologies as an additional resource in the nursing process was already high among the group of caregivers and nurses prior to the educational concepts. The structured educational concept provides background knowledge and sensitizes caregivers and nurses to digital transformation, enables the evaluation of how digital assistive technologies fit, qualifies these technologies for correct application, and promotes their use. Nurses express specific ideas and requirements for both technology-related education concepts and nursing technologies. CONCLUSIONS The results revealed that actively fixing a match between technical support and physical limitation and patients’ needs is crucial when selecting digital assistive technologies and integrating them into nursing processes. To this end, a structured, accompanying educational concept like SEQI that specifically strengthens the competences of caregivers to integrate DAT can help unfold the potential of such technologies in care. Practical application-oriented learning influences long-term implementation. CLINICALTRIAL German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) registration number: DRKS00024967 https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00024967

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Gute Technik für ein gutes Leben im Alter?

Cited by 3 publications

References 67 publications

Digitale Assistenzsysteme in der Altenpflege – Fluch oder Segen? Eine empirische Untersuchung zu Chancen, Risiken und Auswirkungen

Digitale Assistenzsysteme in der Altenpflege – Fluch oder Segen? Eine empirische Untersuchung zu Chancen, Risiken und Auswirkungen

Integrating Digital Assistive Technologies Into Care Processes: Mixed Methods Study

Integrating Digital Assistive Technologies Into Care Processes: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)

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