Implementation of Telemonitoring in Health Care: Facilitators and Barriers for Using eHealth for Older Adults with Chronic Conditions

Maria Liljeroos; Marina Arkkukangas

doi:10.2147/RMHP.S396495

Implementation of Telemonitoring in Health Care: Facilitators and Barriers for Using eHealth for Older Adults with Chronic Conditions

Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2023 Jan 10:16:43-53. doi: 10.2147/RMHP.S396495. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Maria Liljeroos^#^{1

2}, Marina Arkkukangas^#^{2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
² Centre for Clinical Research Sörmland, Uppsala University, Eskilstuna, Sweden.
³ Department of Medicine and Sport Sciences, School of Health and Welfare, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden.
⁴ Department of Physiotherapy, School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Purpose: The retrospective study used a hybrid design aimed to a) describe the implementation process of telemonitoring from stakeholders' perspectives and b) identify facilitators and barriers perceived by the care team.

Patients and methods: Qualitative interview data were analyzed using manifest inductive qualitative content analysis to describe what was perceived as barriers and what facilitated the implementation. Participating healthcare professionals recruited from a multi-professional care team in Sweden. Overall, 14 healthcare professionals comprising 8 assistant nurses, 3 nurses, 1 physiotherapist, 1 occupational therapist, and one general practitioner participated in five interviews.

Results: Four categories were derived from the interview analysis: previous experience with digital technology, the need for preparation before implementation, perceptions of using telemonitoring in daily practice from the patient's perspective, and perceptions of the relevance and reasons for applying telemonitoring from the care team's perspective. The identification of stakeholders and the need to plan carefully when proposing the introduction of telemonitoring systems into work practices are both crucial.

Conclusion: The attitudes of healthcare professionals can be a significant factor in the acceptance and efficiency of the use of telemonitoring in practice. Therefore, implementing new technology in healthcare should involve healthcare professionals at an early stage to gain common understanding.

Keywords: homecare; implementation; multimorbidity; technology.

Grants and funding

This research was supported by Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR). The sponsors had no involvement in any of the stages from study design to publication.