Home Care NetWork
Home Care Literature Reviews 2004
Technology:
Lehoux P. Patients' perspectives on high-tech home care: A qualitative inquiry into the user-friendliness of four technologies. BMC Health Serv Res. 2004;4:28, Epub ahead of print
This Canadian study surveyed 16 patients receiving at least one of four home care interventions (antibiotic intravenous therapy, parenteral nutrition, peritoneal dialysis and oxygen therapy) and six caregivers then observed nursing visits of a different set of 16 patients and found that the technologies were rarely perceived as user-friendly and user-acceptance was closely linked to the patient's user-competence. The patients found it difficult to maintain a regular job because of the high frequency of treatment, while some caregivers found their autonomy and social lives restricted. Patients also tended to withdraw from social activities because of perceived social stigmatization and technical barriers. This chatty study is not especially well designed but the findings ring true.
Greenwald PW, Rutherford AF, Green RA, Giglio J. Emergency department visits for home medical device failure during the 2003 North America blackout. Acad Emerg Med. 2004;11:786-9.
This retrospective chart review for all patients evaluated in an urban teaching emergency department (ED) during a 24-hour period spanning the duration of regional power failure found that 23 of 255 patients coming to the ED during the 24-hour period presented with medical device failure (19 nonfunctioning oxygen conservers, three ventilator failures, and two airway suction device failures). Thirteen patients were admitted to the hospital and accounted for 22% of all admissions during the study interval. This is a sobering report and DME providers must have contingency plans for their customers (our patients).
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