Open AccessUsing telemedicine in nursing homes during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A multi‐perspective view on the implementation process
Author(s) -
Plunger Petra,
Eitenberger Magdalena,
KleteckaPulker Maria,
WocheleThoma Thomas,
Klager Elisabeth,
Ruf Ann Kathrin,
Eibensteiner Fabian
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
nursing open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.55
H-Index - 12
ISSN - 2054-1058
DOI - 10.1002/nop2.1155
Subject(s) - telemedicine , nursing , videoconferencing , thematic analysis , pandemic , documentation , covid-19 , medicine , perspective (graphical) , qualitative research , psychology , health care , multimedia , computer science , sociology , social science , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economics , programming language , economic growth , artificial intelligence
Aim Centring on nursing homes, we analysed the implementation process of a tablet‐ and videoconferencing‐based telemedicine application from the perspectives of management, nursing staff and physicians. Design We used a qualitative design based on interviews to explore diverse perspectives on the implementation of telemedicine. Methods We conducted fourteen face‐to‐face or online interviews with a purposeful sample of five managers, six nurses and three general practitioners treating residents in Austrian nursing homes during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We condensed data using thematic analysis. Results Nursing home management implemented telemedicine rapidly, using a top‐down approach met with ambivalence by staff. On the part of nurses, their professional understanding of person‐centred care was challenged. Telemedicine also impacted cooperation between nurses and physicians, influencing their respective understanding of their roles. Working experience with digital nursing documentation had a positive effect on users' acceptance of the telemedicine solution.