Keep in touch (KIT): perspectives on introducing internet-based communication and information technologies in...

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Health Informatics
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Hospitalized palliative care patients face isolation, hindering social contact with loved ones.
• Internet-based communication and information technologies offer a potential solution to mitigate this isolation.
• This study explored the acceptability of these technologies in an inpatient palliative care setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the acceptability of introducing internet-based communication and information technologies for patients in a palliative care in-patient unit.
• To gather diverse stakeholder perspectives on the use of web-based communication in palliative care.

Main Methods:

• The Keep in Touch (KIT) project's first phase involved consulting key informants, including patients, family members, care providers, IT experts, and administrators.
• Data collection methods included focus groups, interviews, and drop-in consultations.
• Analysis focused on identifying themes, consensus, and differences across participant groups regarding technology use.

Main Results:

• Patients and family members highlighted challenges in maintaining contact and identified numerous benefits of communication technologies for quality of life and care.
• Patients and family members perceived minimal drawbacks to using these technologies.
• Care providers expressed concerns about increased time demands, while administrators and IT experts noted privacy and cost issues.

Conclusions:

• The study confirmed the acceptability of offering internet-based communication and information technologies in palliative care in-patient units.
• Findings provide a basis for piloting these technologies at the bedside.
• Further research is required to assess the feasibility of bedside implementation.