The influence of a wound care teleassistance service on nursing practice: a case study in Quebec.
BACKGROUND
Although telehealth is a promising solution for healthcare professionals who work in remote and rural regions, the influence of specific telehealth applications on the nursing workforce remains unknown. This case study aimed to explore the potential influence of a teleassistance service in wound care (the acronym in French is TASP) on nursing practices and on nurse retention in peripheral areas.


METHODS
We carried out an exploratory single case study based on 16 semistructured interviews with two promoters of TASP, five nursing managers, and nine nurses from three levels of expertise associated with this service.


RESULTS
According to participants, the main positive influences of TASP were observed in quality of care, professional autonomy, professional development, and decrease of professional isolation. Participants mentioned increased workload associated with global patient data collection at first consultation as a negative effect of TASP. Finally, three possible effects of TASP on nurse retention were identified: none or minimal, imprecise, or mostly positive.


CONCLUSIONS
This case study highlights the positive influence of TASP on several dimensions of nursing practice, in addition to its essential role in improving the quality of care. However, it is important to consider that the service cannot be considered as a solution to or replacement for the shortage of nurses.
1 CHU de Québec Research Centre , Quebec City, Quebec, Canada .
Marie-Pierre
MP
Gagnon
Erik
E
Breton
François
F
Courcy
Sonia
S
Quirion
José
J
Côté
Guy
G
Paré
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000458:organization & administration; D011792:Quebec; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy
home health monitoring; information and communication technologies; nurse retention; nursing practice; telemedicine; wound care