Mobile Health Technology Is Here-But Are Hospice Informal Caregivers Receptive?

Mobile Health Technology Is Here-But Are Hospice Informal Caregivers Receptive?

Title
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2018
AuthorsPhongtankuel V, Shalev A, Adelman RD, Dewald R, Dignam R, Baughn R, Prigerson HG, Teresi J, Czaja SJ, M Reid C
JournalAm J Hosp Palliat Care
Pagination1049909118779018
Date Published2018 Jan 01
ISSN1938-2715
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Mobile health applications (mHealth apps) represent a rapidly emerging technology that is being used to improve health-care delivery. In home hospice, informal caregivers play an essential role in attending to the day-to-day needs of their terminally ill loved ones. Using mHealth apps by caregivers in this setting could potentially improve the support provided to both patients and caregivers at the end of life (EoL).

OBJECTIVES: To explore informal caregivers' receptivity and concerns in using mHealth apps along with app features, caregivers perceived to be most useful in home hospice care.

DESIGN: Eighty semistructured phone interviews were conducted with informal caregivers who received care from a nonprofit hospice organization. Study data were analyzed using content analysis, coding for themes of receptivity and interest.

RESULTS: Sixty-two (78%) participants were receptive to using an mHealth app in home hospice care. Informal caregivers were interested in features that addressed: (1) communication to improve patient care (n = 44, 70%), (2) access to patient care information (n = 30, 48%), (3) education (n = 24, 39%), and (4) updates from health-care personnel and scheduling services (n = 10, 16%).

CONCLUSIONS: A substantial majority of informal caregivers voiced receptivity to using mHealth apps and expressed interest in features that enhance communication and provide information to improve patient care. Although more research is needed to examine how to incorporate this technology into existing home hospice care, our study suggests that informal caregivers are likely to use this technology they feel will help enhance home-based EoL care delivery.

DOI10.1177/1049909118779018
Alternate JournalAm J Hosp Palliat Care
PubMed ID29862851

Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Research on End-of-Life Care 525 E 68th St, Box 39,
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New York, NY 10065