Health Care Professionals’ Experiences in Telerehabilitation: Qualitative Content Analysis (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND In Swedish healthcare, the use of telerehabilitation has increased in an effort to make healthcare more accessible. At organizational levels, trust in digitalization has stabilized, but a certain degree of skepticism appears to exist among healthcare employees. OBJECTIVE In the present study, we explore healthcare professionals’ experiences of tele(re)habilitation through qualitative interviews carried out with employees at a habilitation center who have worked with patients and colleagues through digital mediums. METHODS Qualitative interviews were conducted followed by qualitative content analysis. RESULTS The analysis revealed that there are mixed feelings regarding the digital format used at the habilitation center; namely concerns that the digital format is not suitable for every individual, or every case. Even though some skepticism remained regarding the digital format, there seemed to be a parallel understanding of the motives and benefits of digitalization. Positive aspects of the format were identified, e.g., increased healthcare accessibility and workday flexibility, but emphasis was placed on considering the appropriateness of digital encounters for each individual patient. CONCLUSIONS Managing a workday influenced by the balance between digital and physical demands forces HCP to adjust to the digital format as part of an increasingly digitally-managed workday. Being aware of digitalization as a workplace development process, and constantly having to adapt to the changing demands (considering that digital formats are not for every time) is complex yet required. Driven by professional values such as, for example, putting patient care first, negotiating the pros and cons of healthcare digitalization is a constantly-evolving and challenging process.