Factors That Influence Successful Adoption of Real-Time Location Systems for Use in a Dementia Care Setting: Mixed...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Informatics
• Technology Adoption

Background:

• Real-time location systems (RTLS) are increasingly explored in healthcare for dementia care.
• RTLS can potentially address resource gaps and improve care delivery in dementia settings.
• This study focuses on the adoption factors of RTLS in an inpatient dementia unit.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore factors influencing the adoption or nonadoption of RTLS in a specialized inpatient dementia unit.
• To assess the fit between technology attributes and healthcare providers' intentions to adopt RTLS.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach using quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with frontline healthcare providers (HCPs).
• Deductive analysis of interviews using the Fit Between Individuals, Task, and Technology framework.
• Assessed individual-task, individual-technology, and task-technology fit.

Main Results:

• Individual-task fit: HCPs identified tasks and perceived missing at-risk patient events.
• Task-technology fit: Themes included task reorganization, personal control, and efficiency.
• Individual-technology fit: Factors comprised privacy, trust, user interfaces, and safety perceptions.

Conclusions:

• Most HCPs adopted the RTLS tablet app, citing usefulness, technological comfort, and job alignment.
• HCPs perceived dramatic reductions in patient search time.
• While care improvements were implied, HCPs reported increased peace of mind regarding patient activity levels.