Guo Qiaohong, Cann Beverley, McClement Susan, Thompson Genevieve, Chochinov Harvey Max
Department of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
Manitoba Palliative Care Research Unit, CancerCare Manitoba, 3017-675 McDermot Ave, Winnipeg, R3E 0V9, MB, Canada.
BMC Palliat Care. 2016 Aug 2;15:66. doi: 10.1186/s12904-016-0140-5.
Hospitalized palliative patients need to keep in touch with their loved ones. Regular social contact may be especially difficult for individuals on palliative care in-patient units due to the isolating nature of hospital settings. Technology can help mitigate isolation by facilitating social connection. This study aimed to explore the acceptability of introducing internet-based communication and information technologies for patients on a palliative care in-patient unit.
In the first phase of the Keep in Touch (KIT) project, a diverse group of key informants were consulted regarding their perspectives on web-based communication on in-patient palliative care units. Participants included palliative patients, family members, direct care providers, communication and information technology experts, and institutional administrators. Data was collected through focus groups, interviews and drop-in consultations, and was analyzed for themes, consensus, and major differences across participant groups.
Hospitalized palliative patients and their family members described the challenges of keeping in touch with family and friends. Participants identified numerous examples of ways that communication and information technologies could benefit patients' quality of life and care. Patients and family members saw few drawbacks associated with the use of such technology. While generally supportive, direct care providers were concerned that patient requests for assistance in using the technology would place increased demands on their time. Administrators and IT experts recognized issues such as privacy and costs related to offering these technologies throughout an organization and in the larger health care system.
This study affirmed the acceptability of offering internet-based communication and information technologies on palliative care in-patient units. It provides the foundation for trialing these technologies on a palliative in-patient unit. Further study is needed to confirm the feasibility of offering these technologies at the bedside.
住院的姑息治疗患者需要与他们所爱的人保持联系。由于医院环境具有隔离性，对于入住姑息治疗病房的患者来说，定期的社交接触可能尤其困难。技术可以通过促进社交联系来帮助减轻隔离感。本研究旨在探讨在姑息治疗住院病房为患者引入基于互联网的通信和信息技术的可接受性。
在“保持联系”（KIT）项目的第一阶段，就他们对住院姑息治疗病房基于网络通信的看法，咨询了不同群体的关键信息提供者。参与者包括姑息治疗患者、家庭成员、直接护理提供者、通信和信息技术专家以及机构管理人员。通过焦点小组、访谈和即席咨询收集数据，并分析各参与者群体的主题、共识和主要差异。
住院的姑息治疗患者及其家庭成员描述了与家人和朋友保持联系的挑战。参与者列举了许多通信和信息技术可以改善患者生活质量和护理的方式。患者和家庭成员认为使用此类技术几乎没有缺点。虽然普遍表示支持，但直接护理提供者担心患者在使用技术方面寻求帮助的请求会增加他们的时间负担。管理人员和信息技术专家认识到在整个组织以及更大的医疗保健系统中提供这些技术所涉及的隐私和成本等问题。
本研究证实了在姑息治疗住院病房提供基于互联网的通信和信息技术的可接受性。它为在姑息治疗住院病房试用这些技术奠定了基础。需要进一步研究以确认在床边提供这些技术的可行性。
