Using Simulations to Integrate Technology into Health Care Aides' Workflow

Sharla King,Ioanis Nikolaidis,Eleni Stroulia,Lili Liu

doi:10.3991/ijac.v6i2.2982

Sharla King, Ioanis Nikolaidis + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijac.v6i2.2982

Copy DOI

Abstract

Health care aides (HCAs) are critical to home care, providing a range of services to people with chronic conditions, aging or are unable to care for themselves independently. The current HCA supply will not keep up with this increasing demand without fundamental changes in their work environment. One possible solution to some of the workflow challenges and workplace stress of HCAs is hand-held tablet technology. In order to introduce the use of tablets with HCAs, simulations were developed. Once an HCA was comfortable with the tablet, a simulated client was introduced. The HCA interacted with the simulated client and used the tablet applications to assist with providing care. After the simulations, the HCAs participated in a focus group. HCAs completed a survey before and after the tablet training and simulation to determine their perception and acceptance of the tablet. Future deployment and implementation of technologies in home care should be further evaluated for outcomes.

Highlights

Health care aides (HCAs) are critical for the delivery of home care and provide a range of services to people with age-related chronic conditions, or individuals unable to care for themselves independently
One possible solution to alleviate some of the workflow challenges and workplace stress of HCAs is information communication technology (ICT), or hand-held mobile devices
The purpose of this project was to determine whether ICTs can address some of the workflow challenges HCAs face in Alberta, Canada

Summary

Introduction

Health care aides (HCAs) are critical for the delivery of home care and provide a range of services to people with age-related chronic conditions, or individuals unable to care for themselves independently. About 1.2 million Canadians, 65 years and older, use home-care services annually [1]. In both the US and Canada, the demand for HCA services is increasing dramatically due to the aging population [2]. One possible solution to alleviate some of the workflow challenges and workplace stress of HCAs is information communication technology (ICT), or hand-held mobile devices. Amplifying this challenge is the fact that HCA training programs are brief (average 16 weeks) and continuing education opportunities are limited, as funding is often unavailable to allow the HCAs to participate

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion