User Profiles of Healthcare Professionals in a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Care Pathway

Abstract

Telehealth is a digital service expected to address healthcare demands by supporting self-management and improving access to healthcare facilities for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, results for telehealth efficacy are conflicting partially because of barriers to adoption by end-users. Developing an understanding of users' needs helps to reduce barriers of adoption by allowing service designers to create meaningful experiences. We conduct interviews as part of a case study in a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease care pathway in Greece. Following a user-centered design approach, we describe the goals, tasks, and needs of healthcare professionals as four user profiles. The implications of our findings bring to light a deeper understanding of the attitudes and perceptions of healthcare professionals towards telehealth, as well as a core set of user needs for telehealth service designers.

Challenges and opportunities for telehealth in the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a qualitative case study in Greece

“…However, some nurses felt that TH limits their ability to understand the patient’s condition and needs [ 46 ]. The nurse in our case study contradicts this attitude, and instead sees TH as a tool to facilitate better and different patient relationships [ 25 ]. Regarding our case, Greece has a lot of remote territories (up to 25%) and TH could be used as a service to secure patient-HCP communication, especially when considering medical staff shortages and economic crisis [ 47 ].…”

“…Four different HCPs have been surveyed and interviewed (Table 1). More detailed participant characteristics including job description and tasks have been published previously [25]. The governance structure of the Asclepios hospital could be defined as hierarchical, where top-down leadership is present in all levels of the organization.…”

Right services to the right patient

“…However, some nurses felt that TH limits their ability to understand the patient's condition and needs [135]. The nurse in our case study contradicts this attitude, and instead sees TH as a tool to facilitate better and different patient relationships [226]. Regarding our case, Greece has a lot of remote territories (up to 25 %) and TH could be used as a service to secure patient-HCP communication, especially when considering medical staff shortages and economic crisis [240].…”

“…Four different HCPs have been surveyed and interviewed (Table 5). More detailed participant characteristics including job description and tasks have been published previously [226].The governance structure of the Asclepios hospital could be defined as hierarchical, where top-down leadership is present in all levels of the organization. The director is appointed by the health minister and supported by a management board that includes medical doctors.…”

Developing a strategic understanding of telehealth service adoption for COPD care management: A causal loop analysis of healthcare professionals

“…If a nurse had limited "Autonomous nurse decision making", it was less likely that she would adopt TH. Considering "Autonomous nurse decision making", nurse responsibilities varied between different healthcare settings from complete autonomy (Table 1) to generalist nurses which strictly followed protocols from physicians [56]. Based on our QES, stimulating "Autonomous nurse decision making" should not focus solely on increasing the scope of decision making.…”