Preparedness of the healthcare workforce to continue using technology to support patient care beyond the COVID-19 pandemic

Preparedness of the healthcare workforce to continue using technology to support patient care beyond the COVID-19 pandemic

Angela Mcloughlan¹, Adam Semciw^1,2, Ron Borland^3,4, Brian Oldenburg^4,5, Alison Beauchamp⁶, Rebecca Jessup<sup>1,2,6

1</sup>Northern Health, Melbourne , Victoria, Australia
²La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
³Melbourne University, Melbourne , Victoria, Australia
⁴National Health and Medical Council Centre of Research Excellence , Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
⁵Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
⁶Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated widespread adoption of telehealth. This has posed challenges for healthcare professionals (HCPs) who have been hesitant using this technology as part of their healthcare delivery. The primary aim of this study was to investigate HCPs preparedness to continue using telehealth beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. The secondary aim was to examine the perceived ability of HCPs to evaluate the reliability of online information sources and to investigate whether a relationship exists between this and preparedness to continue using telehealth.

Methods: A single site cross-sectional survey of HCPs in an outpatient and community therapy setting.

Results: 310 HCPs responded (39.6%), with 287 participants included in the final analysis. Nurses were at least six times, and medical staff, at least three times more likely than allied health to indicate that they would continue to use telehealth in the future. There was no association between continued telehealth use and age, gender, telehealth experience, or perceived ability to evaluate the reliability of online information sources. Nurses and allied health were more likely to use less reliable online information sources than medical staff.

Discussion: Results suggest hesitancy amongst allied health toward continued telehealth use, which may be due to the type of care they provide. To broaden the scope of telehealth care, eHealth technologies that support the needs of HCPs providing virtual ‘hands-on care’ should be explored. The findings also suggest training is required to build workforce capability in evaluating online information sources used to support patient care.

Biography

Biographies to come
Angela is a new and emerging researcher with an interest in staff development and capability.