Benefits and barriers of technologies supporting working carers—A scoping review

Abstract

Combining work and care can be very challenging. If not adequately supported, carers’ employment, well-being and relationships may be at risk. Technologies can be potential solutions. We carried out a scoping review to find out what is already known about technologies used by working carers. The search included academic and grey literature published between January 2000 and June 2020. Sixteen relevant publications were analysed and discussed in the context of the broader discourse on work-care reconciliation. Technologies discussed can be classified as: (a) web-based technologies; (b) technologies for direct communication; (c) monitoring technologies; and (d) task-sharing tools. Technologies can help to make work-care reconciliation more manageable and alleviate psychosocial and emotional stress. General barriers to using technology include limited digital skills, depending on others to use technologies, privacy and data protection, cost, limited technological capabilities, and limited awareness regarding available technologies. Barriers specific to some technologies include work disruptions, limited perceived usefulness, and lacking time and energy to use technologies. More research into technologies that can address the needs of working carers and how they are able to use them at work is needed.