Telenursing Practices for Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Interview Study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice
• Remote Healthcare
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease Management

Background:

• Telenursing is crucial for supporting inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients globally.
• Nurses face challenges in telephone consultations for IBD care.
• Understanding telenursing specifics in Japan is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and describe telenursing practices for IBD patients in Japan.
• To explore nurses' perspectives on important aspects of remote IBD care.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.
• 20 experienced telenursing nurses in Japan participated.
• Inductive content analysis was used for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Six categories of telenursing practice were identified: education, situation clarification, symptom assessment, response recommendation, non-physical issue management, and nurse-patient contact.
• Nurses highlighted the importance of a coordinated system, clear telenursing roles, and enhanced nursing skills.
• Participants had a median of 10 years of telenursing experience.

Conclusions:

• Findings offer a clearer understanding of telenursing practices for IBD patients in Japan.
• The study provides guidance for improving remote care and support for individuals with IBD.
• Enhancing nursing skills and system coordination are vital for effective telenursing.