Australian nurses in aged care homes wanted technology solutions to support their work in providing palliative care.
A recent study by Researchers from Flinders University examined the attitudes and expectations of carers from 15 aged care facilities regarding the use of technology for end-of-life care.
RESULTS
According to the study, the The findings, published in the journal BMC Nursing, show that aged care providers face practical challenges when using technology in residential care settings, particularly when navigating multiple, fragmented digital systems or platforms (including medication management portals, incident reporting systems, rostering platforms, training portals and digital platforms). clinical documentation systems). This caused them to handle data twice, which increased their workload. Another major problem cited by nurses was “poor interoperability.”
Despite these challenges, nurses were open to the use of digital technologies and recognized their value in palliative care. They even emphasized the necessity Technologies that support symptom assessment and continuous monitoring of resident conditions.
Nurses also wanted consolidated dashboards that integrated various clinical data to monitor resident decline. They also recognized the potential of automation in error-prone areas such as medication administration and documentation.
The study also found that the implementation of telehealth, which has become increasingly common in elder care, is hampered by digital skills gaps among caregivers, who also experience difficulty managing telehealth sessions.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
“With more than a third of Australian deaths occurring in residential aged care facilities, it is critical that we understand how technology can help with end-of-life care,” said study lead author Dr. Priyanka Vandersman, about her study. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Flinders' Research Center for Palliative Care, Death and Dying.
Aged care nurses' perceived openness to technology highlights the importance of addressing their challenges by developing or deploying technologies that are user-friendly and fit seamlessly into existing systems, according to their study.
The researchers suggested involving nurses in the design, development and testing of technologies for potential adoption. It also recommended “designing digital technologies that require minimal cognitive effort for effective use.”
Additionally, the study authors recognized the opportunity to provide personalized end-of-life care through the use of technology that reduces task burden and promotes interpersonal care, helping caregivers better understand the individual needs and preferences of individual residents.
Meanwhile, nurses also insisted on more training and support in using digital tools, including telemedicine, for palliative care. “In aged care, these digital approaches can include assistance with care planning and assistance with medication management. However, we must ensure that caregivers are equipped with the digital skills they need to use these tools effectively while continuing to provide high-quality, person-centered care,” said Dr. Vandersman.
“By developing intuitive digital solutions and providing the right support and training for caregivers, we can ensure that technology complements compassionate care and improves residents’ choice, dignity and quality of life in their final stages,” she added.
THE BIGGER TREND
The Australian Government is pursuing reforms in the aged care sector that include the introduction and modernization of technology. It is planned for this year's budget 1.4 billion Australian dollars (US$1 billion) to upgrade technology and digital infrastructure to meet the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety in 2021.
In July, the Ministry of Health and Aged Care published the five-year deadline Aged care data and digital strategy guiding technology reforms in this sector. Half of its goals are the secure use and sharing of data and the creation of data-based and digital foundations. The pipeline of initiatives to implement this strategy includes virtual care, AI pilots and virtual reality technology trials. There are also plans to develop a data governance framework for aged care, as well as an interoperability and reference architecture.