Abstract

The rapid development and access to mobile technologies has created exciting possibilities in telemedicine, which refers to healthcare delivered from a distance through information and communication technologies (ICTs). Research is needed to advance our understanding of the factors that affect how interprofessional teams, including patients, collaborate when communicating through the use of ICTs.The purpose of this research study was to explore health professionals' and patients' perceptions on the anticipated barriers and facilitators to effectively collaborating when communicating through the use of ICTs. An exploratory qualitative case study design was used. Individual interviews were conducted with health professionals and patients prior to the implementation of a telemedicine post-rehabilitation intervention. Data was analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.Exchanging information between health professionals, exchanging information with patients, and technical skills and user attributes were three themes perceived by health professionals to affect interprofessional collaboration when communicating through the use of ICTs. Themes around patients' perceived barriers and facilitators to collaboration included building a therapeutic relationship, operating ICTs, and understanding and valuing the use of ICTs. Health professionals and patients also perceived system supports as having the potential to enhance collaboration when communicating through ICTs, including: online patient records, schedule sharing, initial face-to-face meetings, transfer notes, communication expectations, visual media, technology tutorials, technician availability, and lastly, mHealth education.Implementing system supports into mHealth interventions would potentially address many of the perceived barriers. The findings therefore have implications on how to promote collaboration amongst healthcare teams when communicating through the use of ICTs.

Citation

Graves, M., Doucet, S., Dubé, A. & Johnson, M. (2018). Health professionals' and patients' perceived barriers and facilitators to collaborating when communicating through the use of information and communication technologies. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 10(1), 85-91. Elsevier Ltd. Retrieved February 8, 2023 from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/205132/.

Keywords

• barriers
• collaboration
• communication
• Facilitators
• Interprofessional
• Mhealth