Technology use in long-term care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of paid employees’ experiences in Western Canada
Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments across the world implemented processes and policies to limit the spread of COVID-19, especially in long-term care (LTC) homes. This led to changes in technology use for persons living in LTC homes, their families and friends, as well as the paid w...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2024-12-01
|
| Series: | Digital Health |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241303195 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850054392931155968 |
|---|---|
| author | Hui-Jun Chew Shannon Freeman Piper Jackson Dawn Hemingway Tammy Klassen-Ross Melinda Martin-Khan Davina Banner |
| author_facet | Hui-Jun Chew Shannon Freeman Piper Jackson Dawn Hemingway Tammy Klassen-Ross Melinda Martin-Khan Davina Banner |
| author_sort | Hui-Jun Chew |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments across the world implemented processes and policies to limit the spread of COVID-19, especially in long-term care (LTC) homes. This led to changes in technology use for persons living in LTC homes, their families and friends, as well as the paid workforce dedicated to caring for them. Objective The study describes the role of technology and its impact on the experiences of LTC staff working in northern and rural areas in Western Canada during COVID-19. Methods A secondary analysis of semi-structured interviews with 52 LTC staff was conducted. Qualitative data was analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach. Results Analysis of the study data revealed that new and innovative uses of technology emerged in the LTC setting during COVID-19, including technologies to support communication and collaboration with medical and health care professionals external to the LTC homes. Video-conferencing technology were rapidly implemented to facilitate virtual visits for LTC residents to connect to their families, further new streaming services were introduced to support recreational activities, including live music and spiritual services. LTC residents required significant support from staff to participate in virtual activities. Inadequate Internet infrastructure and scheduling difficulties in the context of severe staff shortages created challenges in technology adoption. Conclusions This research provides insight into how technology can support LTC teams in northern and rural communities, as well as supports needed for LTC residents and staff to integrate technology effectively. The study informs actionable insights for those working in rural LTC settings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9b9a06f78ba1410b9523a93a8139ffbd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2055-2076 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Digital Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-9b9a06f78ba1410b9523a93a8139ffbd2025-08-20T02:52:16ZengSAGE PublishingDigital Health2055-20762024-12-011010.1177/20552076241303195Technology use in long-term care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of paid employees’ experiences in Western CanadaHui-Jun Chew0Shannon Freeman1Piper Jackson2Dawn Hemingway3Tammy Klassen-Ross4Melinda Martin-Khan5Davina Banner6 School of Health Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, Canada School of Nursing, , Prince George, BC, Canada Department of Computing Science, , Kamloops, BC, Canada School of Social Work, , Prince George, BC, Canada School of Health Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, Canada Exeter Medical School, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, Devon, UK School of Nursing, , Prince George, BC, CanadaBackground During the COVID-19 pandemic, governments across the world implemented processes and policies to limit the spread of COVID-19, especially in long-term care (LTC) homes. This led to changes in technology use for persons living in LTC homes, their families and friends, as well as the paid workforce dedicated to caring for them. Objective The study describes the role of technology and its impact on the experiences of LTC staff working in northern and rural areas in Western Canada during COVID-19. Methods A secondary analysis of semi-structured interviews with 52 LTC staff was conducted. Qualitative data was analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach. Results Analysis of the study data revealed that new and innovative uses of technology emerged in the LTC setting during COVID-19, including technologies to support communication and collaboration with medical and health care professionals external to the LTC homes. Video-conferencing technology were rapidly implemented to facilitate virtual visits for LTC residents to connect to their families, further new streaming services were introduced to support recreational activities, including live music and spiritual services. LTC residents required significant support from staff to participate in virtual activities. Inadequate Internet infrastructure and scheduling difficulties in the context of severe staff shortages created challenges in technology adoption. Conclusions This research provides insight into how technology can support LTC teams in northern and rural communities, as well as supports needed for LTC residents and staff to integrate technology effectively. The study informs actionable insights for those working in rural LTC settings.https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241303195 |
| spellingShingle | Hui-Jun Chew Shannon Freeman Piper Jackson Dawn Hemingway Tammy Klassen-Ross Melinda Martin-Khan Davina Banner Technology use in long-term care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of paid employees’ experiences in Western Canada Digital Health |
| title | Technology use in long-term care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of paid employees’ experiences in Western Canada |
| title_full | Technology use in long-term care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of paid employees’ experiences in Western Canada |
| title_fullStr | Technology use in long-term care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of paid employees’ experiences in Western Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Technology use in long-term care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of paid employees’ experiences in Western Canada |
| title_short | Technology use in long-term care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study of paid employees’ experiences in Western Canada |
| title_sort | technology use in long term care during the covid 19 pandemic a qualitative study of paid employees experiences in western canada |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076241303195 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT huijunchew technologyuseinlongtermcareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyofpaidemployeesexperiencesinwesterncanada AT shannonfreeman technologyuseinlongtermcareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyofpaidemployeesexperiencesinwesterncanada AT piperjackson technologyuseinlongtermcareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyofpaidemployeesexperiencesinwesterncanada AT dawnhemingway technologyuseinlongtermcareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyofpaidemployeesexperiencesinwesterncanada AT tammyklassenross technologyuseinlongtermcareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyofpaidemployeesexperiencesinwesterncanada AT melindamartinkhan technologyuseinlongtermcareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyofpaidemployeesexperiencesinwesterncanada AT davinabanner technologyuseinlongtermcareduringthecovid19pandemicaqualitativestudyofpaidemployeesexperiencesinwesterncanada |