Communication Technologies for Engaging Patients, Families and Caregivers in the Health Care System: A Scoping Review
This review was conducted in collaboration with the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE). The project team included researchers and community organizations from a variety of professions and disciplines who have been working together to develop user-friendly tools for improving the health and well-being of older adults and their caregivers.
Research Results
Findings: A total of 69 articles were reviewed. The majority of studies considered the use of web-based platforms (n=21), specialized technologies (n=14) and mobile phones (n=18). Fewer studies focused on electronic health records (n=8), social media (n=2), email (n=2), Skype (n=1) and health information technologies in general (n=3). The majority of studies considered experiential outcomes in the use of the technology (n=38), followed by investigations into the clinical outcomes of the technology use (n=21). Fewer studies considered users’ attitudes and perspectives about the technologies in question (n=10). The review suggested that new communication technologies can indeed be used to improve engagement with the healthcare system, even amongst frail older adults. A number of studies demonstrated positive clinical outcomes across different technologies and purposes. Some studies suggested that new communication technologies could have positive impacts on healthcare resource utilization. Technology design and usability was an important aspect to attitudes towards and uptake of the technologies. Lack of experience with these technologies had various impacts on uptake of the technologies. Concerns about privacy and security of personal/medical data were also raised.
Impact of findings: This study led to areas for future research identified included the use of social media applications in particular and the perspectives and experiences of caregivers’ use of new communication technologies. Future research might consider how best to engage older adults in technology design and how to best achieve ‘buy-in’ from older adults’ social networks and healthcare practitioners to support the use of technology. The review has shown that new communication technologies are a viable option for improving engagement with healthcare systems but specific attention must be paid to older adults’ particular situations and how best to adapt technologies to those needs.
Publications, presentations and webinars
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About the Project
New communication technologies—such as the Internet, social media applications and mobile and smartphones—offer exciting opportunities for promoting and improving health.
We proposed a scoping review of the literature about the use of such technologies to empower, engage and support seriously ill and/or frail older adult patients and their families and caregivers. This review mapped the literature in this area, identified current best practices and highlighted areas for future inquiry.
The findings from this review will be used to inform the work of CFN and develop innovative tools through NICE and in the team members’ respective organizations. The findings will also be used to foster new research projects to continue to investigate the best ways to use technology to support seriously ill older adults and their caregivers.
Objectives/Research Plan: The review was conducted by identifying the research questions; identifying the relevant studies; charting the data; and collating, summarizing and reporting the results. The research team included experts in care delivery, caregiving and technology drawn from the research, practice and community sectors. Articles were reviewed if they were published between January 2000 and December 2014; published in English; included analyses about an older adult (55+) population; and involved a “new” communication technology that facilitated some form of engagement with the healthcare system or provider.
Project Team
Principal Investigator:
Lynn McDonald, BA, MSW, PhD — University of Toronto
Co-Investigators:
Diane Buchanan, PhD, MScN, BScN, RN — Queen’s University
Louise Demers, PhD — Université de Montréal
Esme Fuller-Thomson, PhD — University of Toronto
Karen Kobayashi, PhD — University of Victoria
Daniel Lai, PhD, RSW — University of Calgary
Lynn McCleary, PhD, MSc, BScN — Brock University
Knowledge Users and Partners:
Nicole Beben — Saint Elizabeth Health Care
Queenie Choo, C.E.O. — S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
David Conn, MB, BCh, BAO, FRCPC — Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health
Barry Goldlist, MD, FRCPC, FACP, AGSF — Mount Sinai Hospital
Barb MacLean, Executive Director — Family Caregivers’ Network Society
Samantha Peck, Program Director (Communications and Education) — Family Councils’ Program
Maryse Savoie, MSc — Veterans Affairs Canada, St. Anne’s Hospital
Caroline Tapp-McDougall, Vice-President — Canada Cares
Tricia Woo, MD, MSc FRCPC — McMaster University
Project Contact: Lynn McDonald — aging@utoronto.ca
KS 2014-07
Key words: Internet; social media; engagement; caregiving; healthcare
This review will be conducted in collaboration with the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE), an international knowledge transfer network headquartered at the Institute for Life Course and Aging at University of Toronto. The project team includes researchers and community organizations from a variety of professions and disciplines who have been working together to develop user-friendly tools for improving the health and well-being of older adults and their caregivers.
Project Contact: Lynn McDonald — aging@utoronto.ca
Key Findings for Families
New communication technologies may help older adults communicate and use the healthcare systems, and may even help them access the resources they need.
- The types of technology that were most commonly studied were web-based, specialized technologies and cell phones
- Overall the new communication technologies were promising as a way of improving how older adults interact and use the healthcare system. But, if these technologies are going to be helpful and improve healthcare they need to be user-friendly
Why This Matters
The use of new technology is becoming more common in healthcare. The use of these technologies may help patients and families/caregivers interact and talk with healthcare providers, but how useful they are among older adults and their families/caregivers is not known.
About This Study
- This study used scoping review methods. A scoping review is a way to find all research on the use of communication technologies for older adults
- Studies were included in this review if they researched older adults (55+ years old) and new communication technologies (not phone or video-conferencing)
This review will be conducted in collaboration with the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE), an international knowledge transfer network headquartered at the Institute for Life Course and Aging at University of Toronto. The project team includes researchers and community organizations from a variety of professions and disciplines who have been working together to develop user-friendly tools for improving the health and well-being of older adults and their caregivers.
Project Contact: Lynn McDonald — aging@utoronto.ca
Key Findings for Policy
New communication technologies are a viable option for improving engagement with healthcare systems, and perhaps healthcare resource utilization.
- The type of technology examined was most commonly web-based platforms, specialized technologies and mobile phones
- Technologies can improve the engagement of frail elderly patients in their care, but the use of these technologies is in its infancy
- Overall the new communication technologies were promising as a means of improving engagement of older adults in healthcare. Mediating factors included usability and age-appropriateness, which could be mitigated through training
Why This Study was Needed
The use of technology as communication tools is becoming more common in healthcare, which has the potential to improve the interaction and engagement of patients and their families/caregivers. However, their effectiveness among the elderly and their families/caregivers is unknown.
Study Summary
The scoping review searched medical databases using search terms for older adults, new communications and engagement. 69 articles were included, and 27 measures were identified. Studies were included if they did analysis on older adults (55+ years old) and involved a “new” communication technology that facilitated some form of engagement with the healthcare system or provider.
This review will be conducted in collaboration with the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE), an international knowledge transfer network headquartered at the Institute for Life Course and Aging at University of Toronto. The project team includes researchers and community organizations from a variety of professions and disciplines who have been working together to develop user-friendly tools for improving the health and well-being of older adults and their caregivers.
Project Contact: Lynn McDonald — aging@utoronto.ca
Key Findings for Researchers
New communication technologies are a viable option for improving engagement with healthcare systems, and perhaps healthcare resource utilization.
- The type of technology examined was most commonly web-based platforms, specialized technologies and mobile phones
- Technologies can improve the engagement of frail elderly patients in their care, but the use of these technologies is in its infancy
- Overall the new communication technologies were promising as a means of improving engagement of older adults in healthcare. Mediating factors included usability and age-appropriateness, which could be mitigated through training
Why This Study was Needed
The use of technology as communication tools is becoming more common in healthcare. The use of these new technologies has the potential to improve the interaction and engagement of patients and their families/caregivers, but their effectiveness among the elderly and their families/caregivers is unknown.
Study Summary
The scoping review searched medical databases using search terms for older adults, new communications and engagement. 69 articles were included, and 27 measures were identified. Studies were included if they conducted analysis on older adults (55+ years old) and involved a “new” communication technology that facilitated some form of engagement with the healthcare system or provider.
Future Research
- Greater focus on the caregiver’s perspective and use of new technologies is needed
- High quality research on a broader type of new communication technology, especially social media, is needed
This review will be conducted in collaboration with the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE), an international knowledge transfer network headquartered at the Institute for Life Course and Aging at University of Toronto. The project team includes researchers and community organizations from a variety of professions and disciplines who have been working together to develop user-friendly tools for improving the health and well-being of older adults and their caregivers.
Principal Investigator
Lynn McDonald, BA, MSW, PhD — University of Toronto
Webinars
Scoping review of communication technologies for engaging patients, families and caregivers in the health care system — Anthony Lombardo