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Experiences from using eH ealth in contact with health care among older adults with cognitive impairment
Author(s) -
Jakobsson Elin,
Nygård Louise,
Kottorp Anders,
Malinowsky Camilla
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of caring sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1471-6712
pISSN - 0283-9318
DOI - 10.1111/scs.12634
Subject(s) - cognition , gerontology , health care , medicine , psychology , psychiatry , economics , economic growth
Rationale Since health care is facing challenges, with fewer caregivers providing care to more clients, eH ealth plays a crucial role. Through eH ealth, people are expected to be more involved in their own care. On the part of health care users, eH ealth requires use of everyday technology such as telephones and computers, and services through the Internet which might be challenging for older adults with cognitive impairment. Aim To investigate experiences of using eH ealth in contact with health care among older adults with cognitive impairment. Method Individual, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with nine participants, aged 65–84 years, with cognitive impairments of varying origins. A constructivist Grounded Theory approach was used. Data collection and analysis were performed simultaneously using a constant comparative method. Ethical issues Ethical approval ( Dnr: 2014/906‐32 ) was obtained from the regional ethical committee, Stockholm. Results The core category, the eH ealth staircase supported by habits , is presented as a model that visualises the result. The model includes three steps showing different ways of being in contact with health care through the use of technological devices and services that mirrors different levels of complexity of eH ealth use as follows: (i) Analogue use , (ii) One‐way‐use and (iii) Interactive use . The participants’ location on the eH ealth staircase was affected by several aspects described in three categories united by habits; A stable relationship with technology: a prerequisite for use ; The importance of interpersonal relationships within health care and Being supported by significant others: a prerequisite in contact with health care . Conclusions Older adults with cognitive impairments seemed to prefer common and less complex eH ealth when contacting health care. Therefore, it is necessary that health care providers offer different possibilities for patients to contact them, that is, both through the Internet and by personal telephone service.