ā” Quick Summary
A recent qualitative study explored the experiences of older adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) using home monitoring technology. The findings indicate that such systems are generally acceptable to both patients and caregivers, provided they see a direct benefit to their care.
š Key Details
- š„ Participants: 12 individuals (6 patients and 6 caregivers)
- šļø Study Duration: 6 months post-hospital discharge
- š Methodology: Semi-structured interviews and Framework analysis
- š» Technology Focus: Home monitoring systems utilizing artificial intelligence
š Key Takeaways
- š Acceptability: Home monitoring was generally accepted by older adults and their caregivers.
- š” Facilitators: Perceived need for support post-discharge and absence of intrusive recording features.
- ā ļø Barriers: Concerns about reliability and lack of confidence in technology.
- š Data Utilization: Uncertainty about how data would be used to enhance safety at home.
- š¤ Collaboration: Development of technology should involve older adults and their care networks.
š Background
The integration of artificial intelligence in healthcare has the potential to transform care delivery, especially for vulnerable populations like older adults. With the increasing incidence of traumatic brain injuries, understanding how these individuals and their caregivers interact with home monitoring systems is crucial for effective implementation and acceptance.
šļø Study
This qualitative study aimed to gather experiential data from older adults aged 60 and above who had recently been discharged from the hospital after sustaining a moderate to severe TBI. Through semi-structured interviews, researchers sought to identify both the barriers and facilitators to the use of home monitoring technology in their care.
š Results
The study revealed that home monitoring systems were largely viewed as beneficial, providing peace of mind to caregivers and addressing the perceived need for additional support after hospital discharge. However, concerns regarding the reliability of the technology and the caregivers’ confidence in its use were significant barriers to widespread adoption.
š Impact and Implications
The findings from this study highlight the importance of user acceptability in the deployment of home monitoring technologies. By addressing the identified barriers and enhancing the facilitators, healthcare providers can improve the quality of care for older adults with TBI. This research underscores the need for ongoing collaboration between technology developers, healthcare professionals, and the older adult population to ensure that these systems meet their needs effectively.
š® Conclusion
This study provides valuable insights into the experiences of older adults with TBI regarding home monitoring technology. The positive reception of these systems suggests a promising future for their integration into clinical care, provided that the concerns of users are adequately addressed. Continued research and development in this area are essential for enhancing the safety and well-being of older adults at home.
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Experiences with home monitoring technology in older adults with traumatic brain injury: a qualitative study.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Home monitoring systems utilising artificial intelligence hold promise for digitally enhanced healthcare in older adults. Their real-world use will depend on acceptability to the end user i.e. older adults and caregivers. We explored the experiences of adults over the age of 60 and their social and care networks with a home monitoring system installed on hospital discharge after sustaining a moderate/severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), a growing public health concern.
METHODS: A qualitative descriptive approach was taken to explore experiential data from older adults and their caregivers as part of a feasibility study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 6 patients and 6 caregivers (Nā=ā12) at 6-month study exit. Data were analysed using Framework analysis. Potential factors affecting acceptability and barriers and facilitators to the use of home monitoring in clinical care and research were examined.
RESULTS: Home monitoring was acceptable to older adults with TBI and their caregivers. Facilitators to the use of home monitoring were perceived need for greater support after hospital discharge, the absence of sound and video recording, and the peace of mind provided to care providers. Potential barriers to adoption were reliability, lack of confidence in technology and uncertainty at how data would be acted upon to improve safety at home.
CONCLUSIONS: Remote monitoring approaches are likely to be acceptable, especially if patients and caregivers see direct benefit to their care. We identified key barriers and facilitators to the use of home monitoring in older adults who had sustained TBI, which can inform the development of home monitoring for research and clinical use. For sustained use in this demographic the technology should be developed in conjunction with older adults and their social and care networks.
Author: [‘Parkinson ME’, ‘Smith RM’, ‘Tanious K’, ‘Curtis F’, ‘Doherty R’, ‘Colon L’, ‘Chena L’, ‘Horrocks SC’, ‘Harrison M’, ‘Fertleman MB’, ‘Dani M’, ‘Barnaghi P’, ‘Sharp DJ’, ‘UK Dementia Research Institute Care Research & Technology Research Group’, ‘Li LM’]
Journal: BMC Geriatr
Citation: Parkinson ME, et al. Experiences with home monitoring technology in older adults with traumatic brain injury: a qualitative study. Experiences with home monitoring technology in older adults with traumatic brain injury: a qualitative study. 2024; 24:796. doi: 10.1186/s12877-024-05397-0