Collaboration in Mixed Homecare – A Study of Care Actors’ Acceptance Towards Supportive Groupware

Abstract

As more and more people reach high age the need for care, especially at home, rises. Caring involves the coordination of a wide variety of actors. Modern information and communication technologies (ICT) may improve care coordination and thus relieve all actors involved in outpatient care. This paper presents the results of a study (n = 108), that aimed to find out about the attitude of care actors towards digital care coordination tools in Germany. The survey contained questions regarding the care situation, expectations, technology commitment, barriers and need for assistance. The data were primarily evaluated according to the subgroups informal caregivers and professional actors. The study showed a lack of target group oriented provision and support of groupware. A mere provision of the technology does not lead to the desired acceptance of the offer because none of the actor groups sees the initiating role of technology use on their side. Personal instruction and support are in demand in both user groups, regardless of technology commitment. For the rather less technology-savvy informal caregivers, this can be explained through their rather tense care situations and the mostly rather high age and the associated restrictions. Professionals demand to learn the technology in order to integrate it as effectively as possible into their daily care routine.