title: Integrating scientific evidence to support telehomecare development in a remote region.
abstract: This study aimed to understand how different types of knowledge have influenced the decision making process regarding the implementation of telehomecare in the organization of regional healthcare services in the Province of Quebec (Canada). A case study was conducted in order to explore how scientific evidence was integrated in the decision-making processes regarding the implementation of a telehomecare system in the Gaspésie-Magdalene Islands Health Region. A total of 14 semistructured interviews were completed with key organizational decision makers (regional managers, organization managers, healthcare professionals, and technological managers). Two researchers independently carried out data analysis, encouraging iterations and validation with study participants. The Gaspésie-Magdalene Islands Telehomecare Project is based on a technological solution named Intelligent Distance Patient Monitoring and constitutes a relevant example of the evolution of an e-health solution. Indeed, the first reports of the experiment influenced decision makers to continue the deployment of the solution. Decision makers from all groups agreed on the importance of using past experience to avoid pitfalls and ensure an optimal decision-making process. They highlighted the importance of knowledge translation between sites as well as within sites. Knowledge translation played an important part in the success of the project. Efficient strategies to transfer evidence to organizational decision making have been identified such as an endusers forum, where researchers provide support by sharing evidence with end-users and actively participate in knowledge translation.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. CHUQ Research Center-Hôpital St-François d'Assise, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duplantie
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fortin
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lamothe
authors.forename: France
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Légaré
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Labrecque
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011792:Quebec; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration*