A qualitative study of hospital and community providers' experiences with digitalization to facilitate hospital-to-home transitions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered substantial changes to the healthcare context, including the rapid adoption of digital health to facilitate hospital-to-home transitions. This study aimed to: i) explore the experiences of hospital and community providers with delivering transitional care during the COVID-19 pandemic; ii) understand how rapid digitalization in healthcare has helped or hindered hospital-to-home transitions during the COVID-19 pandemic; and, iii) explore expectations of which elements of technology use may be sustained post-pandemic.

METHODS:

Using a pragmatic qualitative descriptive approach, remote interviews with healthcare providers involved in hospital-to-home transitions in Ontario, Canada, were conducted. Interviews were analyzed using a team-based rapid qualitative analysis approach to generate timely results. Visual summary maps displaying key concepts/ideas were created for each interview and revised based on input from multiple team members. Maps that displayed similar concepts were then combined to create a final map, forming the themes and subthemes.

RESULTS:

Sixteen healthcare providers participated, of which 11 worked in a hospital, and five worked in a community setting. COVID-19 was reported to have profoundly impacted healthcare providers, patients, and their caregivers and influenced the communication processes. There were several noted opportunities for technology to support transitions.

INTERPRETATION:

Several challenges with technology use were highlighted, which could impact post-pandemic sustainability. However, the perceived opportunities for technology in supporting transitions indicate the need to investigate the optimal role of technology in the transition workflow.

• Authors: Hardeep Singh, Carolyn Steele Gray, Michelle L A Nelson, Jason X Nie, Rachel Thombs, Alana Armas, Christian Fortin, Hedieh Molla Ghanbari, Terence Tang
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 17 Issue 8 Pg. e0272224 ( 2022) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 35980960 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• COVID-19 (epidemiology)
• Hospitals
• Humans
• Ontario (epidemiology)
• Pandemics
• Qualitative Research
• Transitional Care