Abstract
The aim of this paper was to explore potential divergence and convergence in relation to health care professionals’ and patients’ acceptability of the use of telehealth within palliative care provision through the lens of Self-Determination Theory. The research utilized a deductive qualitative approach utilizing semi-structured interviews to explore divergence and convergence between health care professionals’ preconceptions of the use of telehealth in palliative care and the lived experiences of patients accessing support in this manner. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with both professionals and patients to explore whether the barriers and benefits of telehealth perceived by professionals corresponded to the patient’s lived experience of utilizing the technology in their palliative care. Interviews were analyzed using a deductive thematic analysis. Professionals and patients identified that the use of telehealth could satisfy the need for autonomy, however this manifested in different ways. Greater divergence was apparent between patient and professional perceptions about how telehealth could satisfy the need for relatedness and competence needs. The findings of this paper highlight how professionals preconceived concerns about the use of telehealth in relation to providing supportive palliative care may not be realized when exploring the experiences of patients accessing services through this medium. This paper highlights the important role of psychological need satisfaction when considering acceptability of telehealth, and motivation to engage in the implementation of technologically driven health services.
Highlights
Many countries are experiencing challenges in health care delivery, including the increased pressures of an aging population, staff shortages and the need to deliver services closer to patient homes [1]
Within each theme the convergent and divergent perceptions of professionals and patients was explored in relation to either the satisfaction or thwarting of their basic psychological needs in the context of using telehealth in palliative care
Both professionals and patients suggested that telehealth could play a role in empowering patients and increasing their sense of autonomy; there was an evident difference in how this sense of autonomy satisfaction manifested itself
Summary
Many countries are experiencing challenges in health care delivery, including the increased pressures of an aging population, staff shortages and the need to deliver services closer to patient homes [1]. Palliative care delivered in rural areas represents one area of health care provision faced with challenges to service delivery [2]. Pilot implementation studies have consistently reported positive patient perceptions and acceptability of technology in palliative care [5,6,7] and occasionally report patient frustrations that professionals fail to make more use of the technology available to them [8]. Research has highlighted how the acceptance of telehealth by professionals are central to the implementation of telehealth within traditional methods of health care delivery [9] and professionals remain an important gatekeeper to the services that are made available to their patients
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