Relatives' opinions of IT support, perceptions of irritations and life satisfaction in dementia care.
We studied relatives' opinions of IT support at a residential home for persons with dementia. We also investigated the relatives' perceptions of irritations and life satisfaction before and after increased IT support. This was accomplished using an experimental group (n = 14) and a control group (n = 8) of subjects in dementia care. The design was quasi-experimental with baseline assessments and three follow-ups. Data were collected using two questionnaires measuring opinions of the IT support: irritations in care (the Nursing Home Hassles Scale) and life satisfaction (the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire). Results showed that relatives' opinions of IT support were generally positive. In the experimental group, relatives' perceptions of practical/logistical irritations decreased between baseline and 12-month follow-up. In the control group, there was an increase in the total Nursing Home Hassles score between baseline and three-month follow-up. This difference did not persist at seven- and 12-month follow-ups. No significant differences were found for life satisfaction. We conclude that relatives had positive opinions of IT support, and their perceptions of practical/logistical irritations decreased after implementation of the IT support package.
Engström
Maria
M
Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Sweden. Maria.Engstrom@hig.se
Lindqvist
Ragny
R
Ljunggren
Birgitta
B
Carlsson
Marianne
M
D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000592:standards; D006701:Home Nursing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012112:Residential Facilities; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards