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Experiences of front-line health professionals in the delivery of telehealth: a qualitative study

MacNeill, Virginia, Sanders, Caroline, Fitzpatrick, Ray, Hendy, Jane, Barlow, James, Knapp, Martin ORCID: 0000-0003-1427-0215, Rogers, Anne, Bardsley, Martin and Newman, Stanton P (2014) Experiences of front-line health professionals in the delivery of telehealth: a qualitative study. British Journal of General Practice, 64 (624). e401-e407. ISSN 0960-1643

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Identification Number: 10.3399/bjgp14X680485

Abstract

Background: Telehealth is an emerging field of clinical practice but current UK health policy has not taken account of the perceptions of frontline healthcare professionals expected to implement it. Aim: To investigate telehealth care for people with long-term conditions from the perspective of the front-line health professional. Design and setting: A qualitative study in three sites within the UK (Kent, Cornwall, and the London Borough of Newham) and embedded in the Whole Systems Demonstrator evaluation, a large cluster randomised controlled trial of telehealth and telecare for patients with long-term and complex conditions. Method: Semi-structured qualitative interviews with 32 front-line health professionals (13 community matrons, 10 telehealth monitoring nurses and 9 GPs) involved in the delivery of telehealth. Data were analysed using a modified grounded theory approach. Results: Mixed views were expressed by front-line professionals, which seem to reflect their levels of engagement. It was broadly welcomed by nursing staff as long as it supplemented rather than substituted their role in traditional patient care. GPs held mixed views; some gave a cautious welcome but most saw telehealth as increasing their work burden and potentially undermining their professional autonomy. Conclusion: Health care professionals will need to develop a shared understanding of patient self-management through telehealth. This may require a renegotiation of their roles and responsibilities

Item Type: Article
Official URL: http://intl.bjgp.org/
Additional Information: © 2014 British Journal of General Practice
Divisions: Social Policy
Personal Social Services Research Unit
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Date Deposited: 09 Jul 2014 08:32
Last Modified: 14 Apr 2024 07:21
URI: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/57614

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