Rapid implementation of Microsoft Teams in response to COVID-19: one acute healthcare organisation’s experience

Mehta, Jay; Yates, Timothy; Smith, Penelope; Henderson, Daisy; Winteringham, Glenn; Burns, Áine

doi:10.1136/bmjhci-2020-100209

Cited by 24 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…With travelling and face-to-face activities severely disrupted, people became more reliant on the Internet to perform daily activities such as keeping in touch with loved ones and accessing support (e.g., health services and purchasing essentials) (Lloyds Bank, 2020;The Office of Communications [OfCom], 2020b). In the UK's National Health Service (NHS), the pandemic restrictions led to a shift from traditional face to face care to remote (telephone or video call) care, both in mental health (Chen, Jones, Underwood, Moore, Bullmore, Banerjee, et al, 2020;Johns, Tan, Burhouse, Ogonovsky, Rees and Ahuja, 2020;Johnson, Dalton-Locke, Vera San Juan, Foye, Oram, Papamichail, et al, 2021) and the broader sector (Mehta, Yates, Smith, Henderson, Winteringham and Burns, 2020;Nune, Iyengar, Ahmed and Sapkota, 2020;Shah, Thakrar, Visvanathan and Thamban, 2021).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of the Internet and digital devices among people with severe mental ill health during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions

Spanakis

Heron

Walker

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: Restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic have led to everyday reliance on digitalisation of life, including access to health care services. People with severe mental ill health (SMI, e.g., bipolar or psychosis spectrum disorders) are at greater risk for digital exclusion and it is unknown to what extent they are able to adapt to online service delivery. This study explored use of the Internet and digital devices during the pandemic restrictions and its association with physical and mental health changes. Methods: 367 adults with an SMI diagnosis completed a survey (online or offline) and provided information on access to Internet connection and devices, internet skills, online activities, and barriers to using the Internet. They also self-reported changes in mental and physical health. Results: During the pandemic restrictions 61.6% were limited or non-users of the Internet. The majority had access to the Internet and digital devices but around half reported knowledge deficits. Most common activities were accessing information and entertainment (88.9%), staying in touch with friends and families (84.8%), and purchasing goods (other than food) (84.3%). Most common barriers were finding the Internet 'not interesting' (28.3%) or 'too difficult' (27.9%), as well as 'security concerns' (22.1% to 24.3%). Using the Internet 'a lot' (vs 'just a bit or not at all') during the pandemic was associated with younger age (Adj ORs = 4.76 and 6.39, Ps < .001), having a diagnosis of bipolar disorder (compared to psychosis; Adj OR = 3.88, P < .001), or reporting a decline in mental health (compared to no decline; Adj OR = 1.92, P = .01). Conclusion: Most people with SMI were limited or non-users of the Internet during the pandemic, which seems to be mainly attributable to lack of interest and skills, rather than lack of devices or connectivity. Older adults with psychosis should be the focus of interventions to support digital engagement in people with SMI.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of the Internet and digital devices among people with severe mental ill health during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions

Spanakis

Heron

Walker

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…other authors have described the potential of this technology to improve communication between healthcare professionals and support the delivery of virtual consultations of patients and their families 4,[14][15][16] . Furthermore, a pre-COVID study reports that palliative care staff generally had favourable attitudes toward video visits and telehealth for home consultations 17 .…”

Section: Data Security Privacy and Ethical Concernsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, the features of Microsoft Teams and Zoom may not align with the clinical workflow of healthcare organisations 4,13,22 . Furthermore, many users enjoy the simplicity of Zoom, whereas many healthcare organisation favour Microsoft Teams due to integration with other software 4,13,22 . Our work is also consistent with previous studies which highlight the ethical challenges of using patient data with technological systems 15 .…”

Section: Data Security Privacy and Ethical Concernsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating the use of video communication technology in a hospital specialist palliative care team during the COVID-19 pandemic

Crosby¹,

Hanchanale²,

Stanley³

et al. 2021

AMRC Open Res

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Background: Healthcare professionals’ use of video communication technology has increased during the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, due to infection control restrictions. Currently there is little published data about the experiences of specialist palliative care teams who are using technology to communicate during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this evaluation was to describe the experience of a UK based hospital specialist palliative care team, who were using video communication technology to support care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An online survey was distributed to the specialist palliative care team at a University teaching hospital in the North West of the UK. We asked participants to provide their views on the scope of use, barriers and future opportunities to use technology for communication in hospital palliative care. Results: The survey was completed by 14 healthcare professionals. Participants indicated that the most common reasons for using the technology was to receive team updates (n= 14, 100%), participate in multidisciplinary team meetings (n=14, 100%), for education (n=12, 86%) and to facilitate cross-site working (n=9, 64%). We identified barriers to using the technology, which were summarised as: (1) user-based difficulties; (2) inadequate technological infrastructure; (3) data security, privacy and ethical concerns; and (4) concerns regarding staff wellbeing. Participants stated that technology can potentially improve care by improving communication with hospital and community teams and increasing access to education. We have used these findings to develop recommendations to help palliative care teams to implement this technology better in clinical practice. Conclusion: Video communication technology has the potential to improve specialist palliative care delivery; however, it is essential that healthcare organisations address the existing barriers to using this technology, to ensure that these systems work meaningfully to improve palliative care for those who are most vulnerable beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“…shopping, entertainment, and contacting friends and family) shifted from face-to-face to remote delivery, often via the Internet. The UK National Health Service (NHS) experienced a similar shift, both in mental [3][4][5] and general health care [6][7][8] . These changes increased the demand for digital skills and led to more people using the Internet for longer, leading to estimations that in one year the UK made five years' worth of progress in digital engagement 9 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring the digital divide among people with Severe Mental Ill Health using the Essential Digital Skills framework

Spanakis

Wadman

Walker

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Aims: Amidst the vast digitalisation of health and other services during the pandemic, people with no digital skills are at risk for digital exclusion. This risk might not abide by the end of the pandemic. This paper seeks to understand whether people with severe mental ill health (SMI) have the necessary digital skills to adapt to these changes and avoid digital exclusion. Methods: 249 adults with SMI across England completed a survey online or offline. They provided information on their digital skills based on the Essential Digital Skills (EDS) framework, sociodemographic information, and digital access. This is the first time the EDS is benchmarked in people with SMI. Results: 42.2% had no Foundation Skills and 46.2% lacked skills for daily life (lacking Foundation or Life Skills). 23.0% of those working lacked skills for professional life (lacking Foundation or Work Skills). The most commonly missing skills were handling passwords and using the device settings (Foundation Skills) and online problem solving (Skills for Life). People were interested in learning more about approximately half of the skills they did not have. People were more likely to lack Foundation Skills if they were older, not in employment, had a psychosis-spectrum disorder, or had no Internet access at home. Conclusion: A significant portion of people with SMI lacked Foundation Skills in this objective and benchmarked survey. This points to a high risk for digital exclusion and the need for focused policy and tailored health sector support, to ensure people retain access to key services and develop digital skills and confidence. To our knowledge this is the first time this has been described using the Essential Digital Skills (EDS) framework. Services, including the NHS, need to be aware and mitigate the risks.

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Rapid implementation of Microsoft Teams in response to COVID-19: one acute healthcare organisation’s experience

Cited by 24 publications

References 2 publications

Use of the Internet and digital devices among people with severe mental ill health during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions

Use of the Internet and digital devices among people with severe mental ill health during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions

Evaluating the use of video communication technology in a hospital specialist palliative care team during the COVID-19 pandemic

Measuring the digital divide among people with Severe Mental Ill Health using the Essential Digital Skills framework

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