Technology dependence and children: a review of the evidence

Abstract

Much has been written about the needs of children who are technology dependent and their care. This literature review aims to highlight some of this work--with a particular focus on children who are ventilator dependent--a group that has been extensively researched in the UK. The views of children and their parents were also sought to identify the emotional, financial and practical burdens of living with technology dependence. The most frequently found consequences for children and their families were: a striving for normalisation, social isolation, the emotional burden of caring, financial and practical difficulties, and the tension between parenting and caring.

The role of hospice in the transition from hospital to home for technology‐dependent children—A qualitative study

“…Such an approach to skills and confidence development has been defined as “phased responsibility” (Brenner et al., ). Our study supports that parents taking on the responsibility for their child in a gradual way with the knowledge of nearby expert support negate some of the emotional impact and stress associated with tensions created between caring and parenting (Cockett, ).…”

“…Such an environment, as parents and professionals saw it, was clearly detrimental to the child's well‐being, particularly their emotional and physical development. The determined strive for “normality” (Cockett, ) or “an ordinary life” (Davies & Carter, ) which parents with technology‐dependent children desperately seek, appears to have been facilitated when step‐down care was provided in hospice.…”

“…Whilst Cockett's () literature review suggested that children with technology dependency and their families have been widely researched, no substantive research exists regarding the potential role of children's hospice in the transition from hospital to home for this group of children. Since this is a relatively new, small and developing area of care, the lack of such research is not surprising.…”

Personal care assistants' experiences of caring for people on home mechanical ventilation

“…This situation constitutes a new and growing challenge for health care. People with impaired communication skills requiring HMV and form a small but growing group in our society , and HMV treatment is one type of advanced home care that demands new knowledge. MacIntyre points out that there is a rapidly growing population of patients who have survived acute critical illness but need ongoing specialised care, e.g.…”

Identification of hospitalized tracheostomy and ventilator dependent patients in administrative data

“…Patients may require tracheostomies and/or ventilators for many reasons including airway, pulmonary, and neurologic conditions or anomalies . Patients who depend on medical technology such as a tracheostomy or ventilator are hospitalized more frequently and use more healthcare resources than other patients with CCCs . Hudson et al found technology dependence, including tracheostomy, is a significant risk factor for hospital readmissions and emergency department visits.…”