Australian nurses in residential aged care homes wanted technology solutions that support their work in providing palliative care.
FINDINGS
According to the study, which findings have been published in the journal BMC Nursing, aged care nurses face practical challenges in using technology in residential homes, particularly with navigating multiple, fragmented digital systems or platforms (including medication management portals, incident reporting systems, rostering platforms, training portal and digital systems for clinical documentation). This resulted in them double-handling data, increasing their workload. Nurses pointed out “poor interoperability” as another major issue.
Despite these challenges, the nurses expressed openness to using digital technologies, recognising their value in palliative care. They even emphasised the need for technologies that support symptom assessment and continuous monitoring of residents’ conditions.
Requirements for Technology
Nurses also wanted consolidated dashboards integrating various clinical data to monitor residents’ decline. They also saw the potential of applying automation in error-prone areas like medication administration and documentation.
WHY IT MATTERS
“With more than a third of Australian deaths occurring in residential aged care facilities, it is critical we understand how technology can assist in end-of-life care,” study lead author Dr Priyanka Vandersman said about their study.
The perceived openness of aged care nurses to technology, according to their study, highlights the importance of addressing their challenges by developing or deploying technology that is user-friendly and that seamlessly fits into existing systems.
Larger Trend
The Australian government is pursuing reforms in the aged care sector, covering technology adoption and upgrades. For this year’s budget, it earmarked A$1.4 billion ($1 billion) for upgrading technology and digital infrastructure, meeting the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety in 2021.
CONCLUSION
The study highlights the importance of understanding the needs and challenges of aged care nurses in using technology to provide palliative care. By developing intuitive digital solutions and providing nurses with the right support and education, we can ensure technology complements compassionate caregiving, enhancing residents’ choice, dignity, and quality of life in their final stages.
FAQs
Q: What are the main challenges faced by aged care nurses in using technology?
A: The main challenges faced by aged care nurses in using technology include navigating multiple, fragmented digital systems, poor interoperability, and double-handling data.
Q: What are the benefits of using technology in palliative care?
A: The benefits of using technology in palliative care include symptom assessment, continuous monitoring of residents’ conditions, and automation of error-prone areas like medication administration and documentation.
Q: What is the Australian government doing to improve technology in aged care?
A: The Australian government has earmarked A$1.4 billion ($1 billion) for upgrading technology and digital infrastructure in aged care, and has released the five-year Aged Care Data and Digital Strategy, which guides the technology reforms in the sector.
