Unlicensed Personnel’s Experience of Digital Signing for Medication Administration in Municipal Healthcare

Pennbrant Sandra,Karlsson Christina,Karlsson Margareta

doi:10.4236/ojn.2020.1012083

Abstract

Aim: To describe unlicensed personnel’s experience of digital signing lists via a smartphone application for the distribution of medication in municipal healthcare in Western Sweden. Design: A qualitative and quantitative design was used. Methods: The study included 48 unlicensed personnel, 28 of whom answered an open-ended questionnaire, while an additional 20 volunteered for individual interviews. The material was analysed by qualitative content analysis. Results: The results indicate that digital signing lists via a smartphone application are feasible, and efficient and facilitate the work. However, some aspects negatively affected the sense of security, meetings with patients and quality of care, such as an insufficient internet signal in some rural areas, difficulty remembering the password, as well as the change of focus from patient to smartphone. To improve quality of care and the meeting with the patient, it is crucial that the technology works and that unlicensed personnel develop technical skills.

Highlights

Welfare technology is becoming increasingly common in healthcare both internationally and nationally [1]
Need for Education The unlicensed personnel (UP) described that the education they received had been inadequate for handling digital signing lists: “Inadequate education in the introduction of digital signing lists” (Questionnaire answer)
A challenge in the use of digital signing lists was remembering the password for the application and signing out after administering the medication or leaving the patient’s home: “To remember and to take the time to sign at the home of the patient” (Questionnaire answer)

Summary

Introduction

Welfare technology is becoming increasingly common in healthcare both internationally and nationally [1]. As many older persons in municipal healthcare are supported by UP for the administration of their medication via the digital signing list, it is important to gain more knowledge about use of the technology, its possibilities, and limitations. With increasing technology in healthcare, it is essential to gain more knowledge about the UP’s experiences of digital signing lists via a smartphone application for distribution of medication in a municipal healthcare organization in Western Sweden. Research in this area is limited and the present study will contribute relevant knowledge. According to Nakrem et al [11], the relationship between patient and caregiver may suffer if the technology does not meet patients’ needs and digital services are not safe and reliable

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Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion