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Exploring How Telephone Triage Nurses Support Older People with Multimorbidity to Engage in Digital Self-management

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Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare (PH 2023)

Abstract

In the European Union (EU), 50 million people live with multimorbidity (two or more chronic diseases), which increases in prevalence with age. As a result, a significant burden is placed on those who live with multimorbidity and on health care systems that manage it. Hence, solutions to support people aged 65+ years to self-manage their illnesses are necessary, and digital health technologies hold promise. However, human support may also be necessary, particularly for those managing multiple complex chronic conditions. A nurse-led telephone triage monitoring service offers a potential solution. The aim of this study was to explore the role of a nurse-led telephone triage service in supporting older peoples’ engagement with digital health technology. One focus group was conducted via Zoom with three telephone triage nurses (TTNs), and six telephone interviews were conducted with a sub-set of older people with multimorbidity (PwMs). Qualitative data were thematically analysed using Nvivo 12 software. PwMs reported being motivated to engage in self-management by knowing their readings were being monitored. Looking at data over time and observing trends helped the TTNs to make accurate assessments of the PwMs’ needs. Both PwMs and TTNs spoke about the warmth of their relationship even though it was conducted remotely. In conclusion, triage nurses play an important role in supporting older people to engage in self-management of multimorbid health conditions.

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Acknowledgements

Funding for this PhD project was granted by Landscape Funding from the Higher Education Authority, Ireland. This work was part-funded under the SEURO project which received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 945449. We would like to sincerely thank all the participants who gave their time to take part in this PhD research project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NetwellCASALA, Dundalk Institute of Technology, Dundalk, Co Louth, Ireland

    Patricia McAleer & Julie Doyle

  2. TCPHI, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    John Dinsmore

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  1. Patricia McAleer
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  2. Julie Doyle
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Correspondence to Patricia McAleer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden

    Dario Salvi

  2. Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

    Pieter Van Gorp

  3. University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

    Syed Ahmar Shah

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McAleer, P., Doyle, J., Dinsmore, J. (2024). Exploring How Telephone Triage Nurses Support Older People with Multimorbidity to Engage in Digital Self-management. In: Salvi, D., Van Gorp, P., Shah, S.A. (eds) Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare. PH 2023. Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, vol 572. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-59717-6_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-59717-6_17

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