Embedding and Integrating a Digital Patient Management Platform Into Everyday Primary Care Routines: Qualitative Case Study

7Citations
Citations of this article
44Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.
Get full text

Abstract

Background: Traditional primary care is characterized by patient consultations via phone and physical visits. However, the current development in Swedish primary care is to blend digital solutions with traditional solutions. This paper addresses this development by examining the normalization of embedding and integrating a digital health care platform into everyday care routines in a primary care clinic. The digital health care platform enables both synchronous (video calls) and asynchronous (chat) communication, as well as self-registration of patient data using automated questions and forms requiring the patient's input. Objective: This study aims to explore the work that health care professionals (HCPs) have to undertake to implement and sustain a digital health care platform as part of their everyday work practice. Methods: HCPs were observed and interviewed to assess their individual and collective engagement and the mechanisms involved in the implementation of the digital platform and its effects on everyday work routines. The normalization process theory (NPT) was used to frame the data analysis. Results: The analysis identified several themes related to the four NPT constructs: coherence, cognitive participation, collective action, and reflexive monitoring. The use of these constructs enabled the analysis to identify ways of supporting implementation. For example, it showed the benefits of having implementation champions and scheduling work hours for HCPs to use the platform. The analysis also revealed a theme of materiality that deviated from the NPT constructs, as NPT gives ontological priority to human actors and social structures. Conclusions: Digital health care platform implementation is a complex process. Our findings provide insights into how individual and collective actions can be supported to embed and integrate a digital platform into everyday care routines. Primary health care organizations need to involve HCPs throughout the implementation process by reorganizing work and providing frequent feedback loops. HCPs are more likely to engage with and commit to changing practices if they perceive the digital platform to be beneficial compared with the current practice. However, they also need resources (eg, time, training, and continuous support) to put the platform into practice. Patient engagement and appraisal are important elements in implementation. Unless patients are willing to use the platform, there is no motivation for HCPs to embed the digital platform into everyday care practice.

References Powered by Scopus

Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology

39646Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

User acceptance of information technology: Toward a unified view

27265Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: Concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness

13278Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Digital consultation in primary healthcare: the effects on access, efficiency and patient safety based on provider experience; a qualitative study

8Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

‘It increases my ability to influence my ways of working’: A qualitative study on digitally mediated patient management in primary healthcare

5Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Investigating healthcare workers' technostress when welfare technology is introduced in long-term care facilities

4Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Frennert, S., Erlingsdóttir, G., Muhic, M., Rydenfält, C., Nymberg, V. M., & Ekman, B. (2022). Embedding and Integrating a Digital Patient Management Platform Into Everyday Primary Care Routines: Qualitative Case Study. JMIR Formative Research, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.2196/30527

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 13

76%

Researcher 2

12%

Professor / Associate Prof. 1

6%

Lecturer / Post doc 1

6%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Nursing and Health Professions 9

47%

Medicine and Dentistry 5

26%

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Bi... 3

16%

Computer Science 2

11%

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free