![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Research indicates that the majority of patients enjoy using the iPad, helping them endure treatments and providing a form of relaxation and distraction. iPads or tablet computers are being provided in hospitals to help patients access cancer treatment and support services, assist them in communicating with staff using video-calling software, connect with family and friends outside of the hospital, and access entertainment. Beyond the more familiar telemedicine tools for professional-patient communication, other computer-mediated technologies have been evaluated for their ability to reduce social isolation, enhance relationships, or support people facing illness or disability. The use of technology is increasingly common in hospital settings. Providing the means, through communication technology, for patients to maintain contact with friends and family can potentially improve well-being at the end of life by minimizing social isolation and facilitating social connection. Confinement to an in-patient hospital ward can impair a person’s sense of social support and connectedness, especially when loved ones are far away or mobility or economics prevents visiting. Maintaining relationships and open communication with family and friends can bolster patients’ sense of well-being. The support of loved ones helps buffer some of the effects of a terminal illness, minimizes despair and improves psycho-spiritual well-being. High-quality palliative care includes attending to a patient’s important relationships. Patients and families need to be provided appropriate technical support to ensure that the technology is used optimally to help them accomplish their goals. This study confirmed the feasibility of offering internet-based communication and information technologies on palliative care in-patient units. Health care providers identified that computer technology helped patients and families keep others informed about the patient’s condition, enabled sharing of important decisions and facilitated access to the outside world. The availability of competent, respectful, and caring technical support personnel was highly valued by patients and families. Most participants found the technology easy to use and reported that it helped them feel better overall, connected to others and calm. Palliative patients and family members used the technology to keep in touch with family and friends, entertain themselves, look up information, or accomplish tasks. Descriptive statistics and paired sample t-tests were used to analyze quantitative data qualitative data were analyzed using constant comparative techniques. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected from patients, families, and health care providers to discern how patients and families used the technology, its ease of use and its impact. An iPad or a laptop computer with password-protected internet access was loaned to each patient and family member for about two weeks or they used their own electronic devices for the duration of the patient’s stay. Participants included 13 palliative in-patients, 38 family members, and 14 health care providers. MethodsĪ cross-sectional survey design was used to describe patient and family member experiences in using internet-based communication technology and health care provider views of using such technology in palliative care. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of introducing internet-based communication and information technologies for in-patients and their families and to describe their experience in using this technology. Confinement to an in-patient hospital ward impairs patients’ sense of social support and connectedness. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |