ACHO virtual assistant and digital care delivery for treatment adherence: a qualitative study of care practices and...

Population ageing, together with the rise of chronic conditions, comorbidities, and polypharmacy, poses major challenges for ensuring therapeutic adherence among older adults. In this context, digital technologies emerge as potential support tools, although their integration into nursing practice warrants further investigation.

This qualitative study explored the experiences of primary care nurses in Extremadura (Spain) using a virtual voice assistant (Assistant on Care and Health Offline, ACHO) to support therapeutic adherence among older adults. In-depth interviews were conducted to examine nurses' views on ACHO's usability and the incorporation of digital technologies into daily care delivery.

Participants found ACHO intuitive and valued its offline functionality and custom features. Some saw opportunities for promoting independent living while improving medical data collection and follow-up care. However, concerns emerged regarding the potential weakening of fundamental professional values, such as empathy and face-to-face interaction, as well as risks to data confidentiality and demands for additional training and workload.

Despite positive feedback on usability, nursing staff's deep-rooted professional values and ideological reservations remain significant barriers to the broader adoption of digital technologies in primary care.