eHomecare and safety: The experiences of older patients and their relatives

Abstract

The study's aim was to extend descriptions of how older patients with granted eHomecare and their relatives understand safety, and further to describe how they experience safety in everyday life. The study was conducted in Sweden. The participants were 12 older patients who had been provided with eHomecare and 8 relatives. Data were collected by semi-structured individual interviews. A conceptual framework of safety was used and a qualitative content analysis was conducted in a deductive and an inductive phase. The deductive results are presented in predefined categories: perceived sense of safety, disturbance and threats, re-establishing safety, and new safety. The inductive analysis resulted in two main categories: safety as part of everyday life and eHomecare as safety. The results show that eHomecare can promote safety for older patients and their relatives. Existing doubts and ethical concerns about the service can be minimized by providing adequate information.

Keywords: Information and communication technology; Older patients; Relatives; Safety; eHomecare.