Date of Award
Spring 1-31-2023
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
PhD Health Sciences
Department
Health and Medical Sciences
Advisor
Genevieve Pinto Zipp, EdD
Committee Member
Deborah DeLuca, JD
Committee Member
Kristi J Stinson, PhD
Keywords
telehealth, home health care, elderly, medication adherence
Abstract
Introduction: Medication noncompliance in the elderly home dwelling adult is a persistent problem resulting in decreased quality of life, hospital readmission within a 30-day period and increased morbidity. Visiting nurses are in a key position to assist the elderly population to employ medication compliance strategies that are tailor-made to fit their individual needs and abilities. The introduction of telehealth technology, while meant to aid elderly home dwelling individuals, may negatively impact the infusion of medication compliance strategies and thus increase medication noncompliance if visiting nurses are not effective in employing this technology.
Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate visiting nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs of incorporating telehealth technology while using medication compliance strategies. Once factors are identified future work can seek to design programs to improve the use of telehealth technology in the home care environment by visiting nurses.
Materials and Methods: The study employed a qualitative research approach using semi-structured interviews to hear the voices of the visiting nurses. The Diffusion of Innovation theory (DOI) and the Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior (KAB) model were used as lenses through which to design interview guide questions that could assess visiting nurse’s knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding employing telehealth technology in the home care environment to assist the elderly dwelling patient with medication management strategies. One on one interviews were conducted via Teams platform for a max of 60 minutes. Participants were visiting nurses who were employed at home health agencies working with elderly dwelling adults, and who use telehealth technology to advance medication compliance strategies.
Results: 10 interviews were conducted at which time data saturation occurred. The PI coded all data manually and intercoder agreement was obtained. Several themes emerged from the data. This study provided evidence that visiting nurses accept telehealth technology, are supportive of its continued use, and are willing to be educated on future advances in this technology to assist the elderly home care patient with medication compliance strategies. Visiting nurses enjoy utilizing telehealth technology, state that they find it convenient and easy to use. Telehealth technology enables nurses to fill the visit void related to limited staff and financial restraints.
Conclusion: Given the aging population of patients in the US requiring home health services the health care system must provide opportunities for nurses to continue to explore and adopt new technologies to advance medication compliance in the elderly population. Specifically, Universities and home health agencies must ensure that nurses are prepared to utilize telehealth technologies in order to promote the use of telehealth in the home care environment with the elderly patient to reduce medication non-compliance issues.
Recommended Citation
Logan, Diane Renee, "Visiting Nurses' Knowledge, Attitudes and Beliefs Regarding Telehealth to Promote Medication Compliance in the Elderly Population" (2023). Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs). 3069.
https://scholarship.shu.edu/dissertations/3069
