title: Principle-based analysis of the concept of telecare.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report a concept analysis of telecare.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Lately telecare has become a worldwide, modern way of giving care over distance by means of technology. Other concepts, like telemedicine, e-health, and telehealth, focus on the same topic though the boundaries between them seem to be blurred.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sources comprise 44 English language research articles retrieved from the database of Medline and Cinahl (1995-October 2011).
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature Review.
  
  
  METHODS
  A principle-based analysis was undertaken through content analysis of the definitions, attributes, preconditions, and outcomes of the concept.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The attributes are well described according to the use of technology, caring activity, persons involved, and accessibility. Preconditions and outcomes are well described concerning individual and health political needs and benefits. The concept did not hold its boundaries through theoretical integration with the concept of telemedicine and telehealth. The definition of telecare competes with concepts like home-based e-health, telehomecare, telephonecare, telephone-based psychosocial services, telehealth, and telemedicine. Assessment of the definitions resulted in a suggestion of a new definition: Telecare is the use of information, communication, and monitoring technologies which allow healthcare providers to remotely evaluate health status, give educational intervention, or deliver health and social care to patients in their homes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The logical principle was assessed to be partly immature, whereas the pragmatical and linguistical principles were found to be mature. A new definition is suggested and this has moved the epistemological principle forward to maturity.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Telemark University College, Porsgrunn, Norway. hilde.solli@hit.no
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Solli
authors.forename: Ida Torunn
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Bjørk
authors.forename: Sigrun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hvalvik
authors.forename: Ragnhild
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hellesø
mesh_terms: D003210:Concept Formation; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D017216:Telemedicine; D009626:Terminology as Topic