Digital adaptability competency for healthcare professionals: a modified explorative e-Delphi study

Roxanne Bleijenbergh; Eveline Mestdagh; Olaf Timmermans; Bart Van Rompaey; Yvonne J Kuipers

doi:10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103563

Digital adaptability competency for healthcare professionals: a modified explorative e-Delphi study

Nurse Educ Pract. 2023 Feb:67:103563. doi: 10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103563. Epub 2023 Jan 31.

Authors

Roxanne Bleijenbergh¹, Eveline Mestdagh², Olaf Timmermans³, Bart Van Rompaey⁴, Yvonne J Kuipers⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Health and Social Care, AP University of Applied Sciences, Noorderplaats 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Centre for Research and Innovation in Care, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: roxanne.bleijenbergh@ap.be.
² School of Health and Social Care, AP University of Applied Sciences, Noorderplaats 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Centre for Research and Innovation in Care, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: eveline.mestdagh@ap.be.
³ Centre for Research and Innovation in Care, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; Research Group Healthy Region, HZ University of Applied Sciences, Edisonweg 4, 4382 NW Vlissingen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: olaf.timmermans@uantwerpen.be.
⁴ Family Medicine and Population Health, University of Antwerp, Fort VI straat 226 -262, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium. Electronic address: bart.vanrompaey@uantwerpen.be.
⁵ School of Health and Social Care, AP University of Applied Sciences, Noorderplaats 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium; Centre for Research and Innovation in Care, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium; Edinburgh Napier University, School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Electronic address: yvonne.fontein-kuipers@ap.be.

PMID: 36758264
DOI: 10.1016/j.nepr.2023.103563

Abstract

Aim: To establish items of the digital adaptability competency for healthcare professionals.

Background: While the application and deployment of eHealth has continued at a rapid pace, healthcare professionals are expected to keep up and join the digital evolution. The implementation of eHealth requires a change in the healthcare professionals' competencies of which the ability to adapt to technological change is fundamental. There's more needed than just ICT skills, overall competencies to be digitally adaptable between patientcare and the use of eHealth are needed. Today, a distinct and relevant list of items for healthcare professionals related to the competency of digital adaptability is missing.

Design: An exploratory modified e-Delphi study.

Methods: This study was conducted in Flanders, Belgium. An expert group (n = 12) consisting of 2 policymakers of the Belgian federal government, 3 eHealth managers of large organizations in the Belgian healthcare sector, 1 nurse, 1 midwife, 2 health service users and 3 researchers specialized in eHealth research. Through a literature review an initial list of items was developed, consisting of 67 statements. A two-round Delphi survey was performed where experts could rate the relevance of each item. The third round comprised an online meeting, where the expert group discussed the remaining items until agreement was reached to retain, modify, or eliminate the item.

Results: In round 1, eleven items were included to the final document. In round 2, ten items were included. In round 3, the panel unanimously agreed to add six items, one item was modified into two separate items. In total, 29 items were included in the final document.

Conclusions: The rather abstract concept of digital adaptability is now transformed into a more pragmatic concept of 29 items, reflecting the practical competencies of healthcare professionals necessary to be digital adaptable.

Keywords: Competencies; Digital adaptability; E-Delphi; Healthcare professionals.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Belgium
Consensus
Delivery of Health Care*
Delphi Technique
Health Personnel*
Humans