‘It increases my ability to influence my ways of working’ : A qualitative study on digitally mediated patient management in primary healthcare
(2023) In Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences 37(1). p.88-105- Abstract
Background: Digitally mediated primary healthcare is increasingly influencing working conditions, raising questions about how digitally mediated patient management is experienced. Aim: The aim of this study was to generate insights, through the lens of postphenomenology, into how digitally mediated primary healthcare affects the work and working environment, by gathering perspectives from primary healthcare professionals who regularly manage patient errands through a digital platform. Methods: Two rounds of interviews were conducted with a diversified sample of primary healthcare professionals at a primary healthcare centre. The first round of interviews was conducted during the initial phase of the deployment of a digital platform for... (More)
Background: Digitally mediated primary healthcare is increasingly influencing working conditions, raising questions about how digitally mediated patient management is experienced. Aim: The aim of this study was to generate insights, through the lens of postphenomenology, into how digitally mediated primary healthcare affects the work and working environment, by gathering perspectives from primary healthcare professionals who regularly manage patient errands through a digital platform. Methods: Two rounds of interviews were conducted with a diversified sample of primary healthcare professionals at a primary healthcare centre. The first round of interviews was conducted during the initial phase of the deployment of a digital platform for patient management, with the second round conducted a year later (n = 24). The interview transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four themes relating to digitally mediated care work were identified: ‘positive feelings towards digitally mediated primary healthcare’, ‘seeing a positive work atmosphere as a prerequisite for change’, ‘experiencing increased control over the pace of workflow’ and ‘reconfiguration of previous problems’. Conclusion and relevance to clinical practice: Building on postphenomenology, our study adds to the understanding of how material and symbolic aspects mutually affect the mediating role of a digital platform for patient management. Thus, the results indicate that the experience of using digitally mediated care processes is conditioned by the discourse towards digitalisation at the workplace and the management's approach to and inclusion of employees in the digital transition of primary healthcare, as well as the usefulness and usability of the digital platform. The findings can inform both practice and policy.
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- author
- Frennert, Susanne LU ; Erlingsdóttir, Gudbjörg LU ; Muhic, Mirella LU ; Rydenfält, Christofer LU ; Milos Nymberg, Veronica LU and Ekman, Björn LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Digital platform, Digitally mediated patient management, Primary healthcare, Qualitative study, Semi-structured interviews
- in
- Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences
- volume
- 37
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 18 pages
- publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:35833314
- scopus:85134030566
- ISSN
- 0283-9318
- DOI
- 10.1111/scs.13099
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic College of Caring Science.
- id
- 63d7a84c-5ce0-4a45-a3db-0caf8da65ebe
- date added to LUP
- 2022-08-17 11:56:00
- date last changed
- 2024-04-15 02:46:03
@article{63d7a84c-5ce0-4a45-a3db-0caf8da65ebe, abstract = {{<p>Background: Digitally mediated primary healthcare is increasingly influencing working conditions, raising questions about how digitally mediated patient management is experienced. Aim: The aim of this study was to generate insights, through the lens of postphenomenology, into how digitally mediated primary healthcare affects the work and working environment, by gathering perspectives from primary healthcare professionals who regularly manage patient errands through a digital platform. Methods: Two rounds of interviews were conducted with a diversified sample of primary healthcare professionals at a primary healthcare centre. The first round of interviews was conducted during the initial phase of the deployment of a digital platform for patient management, with the second round conducted a year later (n = 24). The interview transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four themes relating to digitally mediated care work were identified: ‘positive feelings towards digitally mediated primary healthcare’, ‘seeing a positive work atmosphere as a prerequisite for change’, ‘experiencing increased control over the pace of workflow’ and ‘reconfiguration of previous problems’. Conclusion and relevance to clinical practice: Building on postphenomenology, our study adds to the understanding of how material and symbolic aspects mutually affect the mediating role of a digital platform for patient management. Thus, the results indicate that the experience of using digitally mediated care processes is conditioned by the discourse towards digitalisation at the workplace and the management's approach to and inclusion of employees in the digital transition of primary healthcare, as well as the usefulness and usability of the digital platform. The findings can inform both practice and policy.</p>}}, author = {{Frennert, Susanne and Erlingsdóttir, Gudbjörg and Muhic, Mirella and Rydenfält, Christofer and Milos Nymberg, Veronica and Ekman, Björn}}, issn = {{0283-9318}}, keywords = {{Digital platform; Digitally mediated patient management; Primary healthcare; Qualitative study; Semi-structured interviews}}, language = {{eng}}, number = {{1}}, pages = {{88--105}}, publisher = {{Wiley-Blackwell}}, series = {{Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences}}, title = {{‘It increases my ability to influence my ways of working’ : A qualitative study on digitally mediated patient management in primary healthcare}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/scs.13099}}, doi = {{10.1111/scs.13099}}, volume = {{37}}, year = {{2023}}, }