Authors:
H. J. Toh
;
J. Chia
;
E. Koh
;
K. Lam
;
G. C. Magpantay
;
C. M. De Leon
and
J. A. Low
Affiliation:
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore
Keyword(s):
Telemedicine, User Satisfaction, Perceptions, Healthcare, Telecommunications Technology, Focus Group Discussion, Semi-structured Interviews.
Abstract:
Geriatric care is a holistic approach to caring for older persons with complex health problems, so as to meet
their long term care needs and maintain their independence for as long as possible. Due to a scarcity of
geriatricians, Telegeriatrics was piloted in December 2010 by an acute hospital in Singapore to improve
access to geriatric specialists for nursing homes. This preliminary study explores the perspectives of users
from the NHs and the acute hospital on two aspects of Telegeriatrics – the telemedicine consultation and the
nurse training programme. Seven focus group discussions and two semi-structured moderate interviews
were conducted with a total of 24 participants. Thematic content analysis was applied to identify
important themes and new themes that emerged during the coding process. The most commonly recognised
benefits were increased access to specialist care, reduced need for hospitalizations, improved quality of care,
and enhanced nursing skills and knowledge. However
, the greatest barriers as perceived by the users were
the lack of personal touch, technical issues, and medico-legal issues. The users expressed general
acceptance of Telegeriatrics in providing geriatric care. They were aware of its limitations and challenges,
but also recognized it as a promising way of providing consultation and strengthening nursing skills.
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