Benefits, challenges and sustainability of digital healthcare for NHS Wales: a qualitative study.
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ABSTRACT: Introduction
Digital healthcare in the UK was adopted out of necessity rather than choice during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as we move forward, UK governments and healthcare services have acknowledged its evident benefits for patients, staff and the National Health Service (NHS), and are keen to sustain its improvements in the long term.Objective
To understand the benefits, challenges and sustainability of a future-proof digital healthcare.Design
A semi-structured interview study was conducted.Setting
In NHS services in Wales, UK.Participants
With clinical and non-clinical staff across a mix of clinical specialties.Outcome measures
Semi-structured interviews were conducted to address benefits, challenges and sustainability of a national video consulting (VC) service, and thematically coded using a quantification method of qualitative work.Results
A total of 203 interviews were conducted and 3 dominant domains emerged, with 7 themes and 26 categories.Limitations
It is important to acknowledge that these findings were captured during a pandemic.Conclusions
NHS Wales has demonstrated that currently there are an equal measure of benefits and challenges to a national digital healthcare. However, with ongoing government and service support, improvement and evaluation, it has potential for a sustainable digital future, in which the benefits can outweigh the challenges.
SUBMITTER: Johns G
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10230334 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Benefits, challenges and sustainability of digital healthcare for NHS Wales: a qualitative study.
Johns Gemma G Whistance Bethan B Burhouse Anna A Khalil Sara S Whistance Megan M Ahuja Saiba S Ogonovsky Mike M Ahuja Alka A
BMJ open 20230529 5
<h4>Introduction</h4>Digital healthcare in the UK was adopted out of necessity rather than choice during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as we move forward, UK governments and healthcare services have acknowledged its evident benefits for patients, staff and the National Health Service (NHS), and are keen to sustain its improvements in the long term.<h4>Objective</h4>To understand the benefits, challenges and sustainability of a future-proof digital healthcare.<h4>Design</h4>A semi-structured in ...[more]
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Project description:BackgroundThe increase in the number of elderly persons in developing countries has not had a corresponding increase in social and health care support systems for the elderly. There is a substantial difference in the quality of healthcare received by older people in developing and developed countries. Elderly persons in developing countries including Ghana are increasingly becoming marginalised and isolated. There is, however, limited evidence of healthcare challenges and expectations by elderly persons in Ghana. This study explored healthcare challenges and expectations of elderly persons to inform policy that could lead to improved quality of life for elderly persons in Ghana.Materials and methodsQualitative exploratory descriptive study design was used in conducting this study. Semi-structured interviews were used in collecting data from 30 participants from three regions in Ghana (10 from each region). Data analysis was carried out through content analysis.ResultsFour themes were extracted from data. These themes were: 1. Inadequate information from health workers regarding care of the older person. 2. Queuing frustrations. 3. Financial burden. 4. Focused elderly care demand.ConclusionThe elderly in Ghana experience challenges of healthcare which include inadequate information, queuing frustrations and financial burdens. Elderly persons also have expectations of healthcare which include having dedicated professionals and units that will attend to them during their hospital visits. Academic and clinical gerontology experts could collaborate and help improve gerontology knowledge of health workers through workshops and conferences. Improving knowledge of health workers in gerontology may be a positive step towards meeting healthcare expectations of older Ghanaians.
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Project description:BackgroundRural populations experience ongoing health inequities with disproportionately high morbidity and mortality rates, but digital health in rural settings is poorly studied. Our research question was: How does digital health influence healthcare outcomes in rural settings? The objective was to identify how digital health capability enables the delivery of outcomes in rural settings according to the quadruple aims of healthcare: population health, patient experience, healthcare costs and provider experience.MethodsA multi-site qualitative case study was conducted with interviews and focus groups performed with healthcare staff (n = 93) employed in rural healthcare systems (n = 10) in the state of Queensland, Australia. An evidence-based digital health capability framework and the quadruple aims of healthcare served as classification frameworks for deductive analysis. Theoretical analysis identified the interrelationships among the capability dimensions, and relationships between the capability dimensions and healthcare outcomes.ResultsSeven highly interrelated digital health capability dimensions were identified from the interviews: governance and management; information technology capability; people, skills, and behaviours; interoperability; strategy; data analytics; consumer centred care. Outcomes were directly influenced by all dimensions except strategy. The interrelationship analysis demonstrated the influence of strategy on all digital health capability dimensions apart from data analytics, where the outcomes of data analytics shaped ongoing strategic efforts.ConclusionsThe study indicates the need to coordinate improvement efforts targeted across the dimensions of digital capability, optimise data analytics in rural settings to further support strategic decision making, and consider how consumer-centred care could influence digital health capability in rural healthcare services. Digital transformation in rural healthcare settings is likely to contribute to the achievement of the quadruple aims of healthcare if transformation efforts are supported by a clear, resourced digital strategy that is fit-for-purpose to the nuances of rural healthcare delivery.
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