Development of the Multidimensional Readiness and Enablement Index for Health Technology (READHY) Tool to Measure Individuals' Health Technology Readiness:Initial Testing in a Cancer Rehabilitation Setting

BACKGROUND: The increasing digitization of health care services with enhanced access to fast internet connections, along with wide use of smartphones, offers the opportunity to get health advice or treatment remotely. For service providers, it is important to consider how consumers can take full advantage of available services and how this can create an enabling environment. However, it is important to consider the digital context and the attributes of current and future users, such as their readiness (ie, knowledge, skills, and attitudes, including trust and motivation). OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate how the eHealth Literacy Questionnaire (eHLQ) combined with selected dimensions from the Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ) and the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) can be used together as an instrument to characterize an individual\u27s level of health technology readiness and explore how the generated data can be used to create health technology readiness profiles of potential users of health technologies and digital health services. METHODS: We administered the instrument and sociodemographic questions to a population of 305 patients with a recent cancer diagnosis referred to rehabilitation in a setting that plans to introduce various technologies to assist the individuals. We evaluated properties of the Readiness and Enablement Index for Health Technology (READHY) instrument using confirmatory factor analysis, convergent and discriminant validity analysis, and exploratory factor analysis. To identify different health technology readiness profiles in the population, we further analyzed the data using hierarchical and k-means cluster analysis. RESULTS: The confirmatory factor analysis found a suitable fit for the 13 factors with only 1 cross-loading of 1 item between 2 dimensions. The convergent and discriminant validity analysis revealed many factor correlations, suggesting that, in this population, a more parsimonious model might be achieved. Exploratory factor analysis pointed to 5 to 6 constructs based on aggregates of the existing dimensions. The results were not satisfactory, so we performed an 8-factor confirmatory factor analysis, resulting in a good fit with only 1 item cross-loading between 2 dimensions. Cluster analysis showed that data from the READHY instrument can be clustered to create meaningful health technology readiness profiles of users. CONCLUSIONS: The 13 dimensions from heiQ, HLQ, and eHLQ can be used in combination to describe a user\u27s health technology readiness level and degree of enablement. Further studies in other populations are needed to understand whether the associations between dimensions are consistent and the number of dimensions can be reduced

Usefulness of a Digitally Assisted Person-Centered Care Intervention: Qualitative Study of Patients’ and Nurses’ Experiences in a Long-term Perspective

BackgroundPerson-centered care responsive to individual preferences, needs, and values is recognized as an important aspect of high-quality health care, and patient empowerment is increasingly viewed as a central core value of person-centered care. Web-based interventions aimed at empowerment report a beneficial effect on patient empowerment and physical activity; however, there is limited information available on barriers, facilitators, and user experiences. A recent review of the effect of digital self-management support tools suggests a beneficial effect on the quality of life in patients with cancer. On the basis of an overall philosophy of empowerment, guided self-determination is a person-centered intervention that uses preparatory reflection sheets to help achieve focused communication between patients and nurses. The intervention was adapted into a digital version called digitally assisted guided self-determination (DA-GSD) hosted by the Sundhed DK website that can be delivered face-to-face, via video, or by the combination of the 2 methods. ObjectiveWe aimed to investigate the experiences of nurses, nurse managers, and patients of using DA-GSD in 2 oncology departments and 1 gynecology department over a 5-year implementation period from 2018 to 2022. MethodsThis qualitative study was inspired by action research comprising the responses of 17 patients to an open-ended question on their experience of specific aspects of DA-GSD in a web questionnaire, 14 qualitative semistructured interviews with nurses and patients who initially completed the web questionnaire, and transcripts of meetings held between the researchers and nurses during the implementation of the intervention. The thematic analysis of all data was done using NVivo (QSR International). ResultsThe analysis generated 2 main themes and 7 subthemes that reflect conflicting perspectives and greater acceptability of the intervention among the nurses over time owing to better familiarity with the increasingly mature technology. The first theme was the different experiences and perspectives of nurses and patients concerning barriers to using DA-GSD and comprised 4 subthemes: conflicting perspectives on the ability of patients to engage with DA-GSD and how to provide it, conflicting perspectives on DA-GSD as a threat to the nurse-patient relationship, functionality of DA-GSD and available technical equipment, and data security. The other theme was what influenced the increased acceptability of DA-GSD among the nurses over time and comprised 3 subthemes: a re-evaluation of the nurse-patient relationship; improved functionality of DA-GSD; and supervision, experience, patient feedback, and a global pandemic. ConclusionsThe nurses experienced more barriers to DA-GSD than the patients did. Acceptance of the intervention increased over time among the nurses in keeping with the intervention’s improved functionality, additional guidance, and positive experiences, combined with patients finding it useful. Our findings emphasize the importance of supporting and training nurses if new technologies are to be implemented successfully

Technology in exercise-based cancer rehabilitation:a cross-sectional study of receptiveness and readiness for e-Health utilization in Danish cancer rehabilitation

Background: During recent years, there has been an increased focus on technology within cancer survivorship and physical activity rehabilitation. Failure to acknowledge the individuals wishes and/or limitations in the use of technology introduces risk of neglecting or excluding low-resource individuals, thus adding to an already existing inequity within cancer management. It is important to identify vulnerable sub-populations with particular needs when introducing health technology to offer appropriate rehabilitation and support individuals in taking advantage of technology in their physical activity rehabilitation. We report how a population of cancer survivors referred to municipality-based rehabilitation can be segmented, according to their receptiveness and readiness for health technology utilization, to understand their potential barriers towards using technology. Methods: We used a cross-sectional design with convenience sampling among Danish cancer survivors (n = 305) referred to rehabilitation. Participants completed a questionnaire survey covering background information and a new tool to assess self-reported health technology readiness. Demographic, disease and behavioral factors were described in relation to the participants’ receptiveness to use technology in physical activity rehabilitation. Participants were stratified according to their health technology readiness and the resulting groups described with regards to the above-mentioned factors. Results: Almost 30% of the participants were un-receptive to use technology in relation to physical activity rehabilitation and were characterized by being more vulnerable with regards to sociodemographic characteristics and scoring lower on dimensions related to eHealth literacy. Stratification of the participants according to their health technology readiness profile revealed four distinct profiles that were significantly different in sociodemographic, disease and behavioral factors. Conclusion: To reduce the risk of alienating low-resource individuals when introducing health technology, evaluation of the individuals’ receptiveness to use technology in a rehabilitation context and their readiness for health technology may help tailor the extent to which technology should be offered to assist the cancer survivors.</p

The impact of husbands' prostate cancer diagnosis and participation in a behavioral lifestyle intervention on spouses' lives and relationships with their partners

Background: A prostate cancer diagnosis affects the patient and his spouse. Partners of cancer patients are often the first to respond to the demands related to their husband's illness and thus are likely to be the most supportive individuals available to the patients. It is therefore important to examine how spouses react and handle their husband's prostate cancer diagnosis. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore how the prostate cancer diagnosis and the participation in their partners' behavioral lifestyle intervention program influenced the spouses' life, their relationship with their partner, and how they handle the situation. Methods: Interviews were recorded with 8 spouses of potential low-risk prostate cancer patients on active surveillance as part of a clinical self-management lifestyle trial. Results: We identified 3 phases that the spouses went through: feeling insecure about their situation, coping strategies to deal with these insecurities, and feeling reassured. Conclusions: The framework of a clinical trial should include mobilizing spousal empowerment so that they can take on an active and meaningful role in relation to their husband's disease. The observations here substantiate that the framework of active surveillance in combination with a lifestyle intervention in 1 specific prostate cancer clinical trial can mobilize spousal empowerment. Implications for Practice: Creating well-designed clinical patient programs that actively involve the spouse appears to promote empowerment (meaningfulness, self-efficacy, positive impact, and self-determination) in spouses. Spousal participation in clinical patient programs can give spouses relief from anxieties while recognizing them as a vital support for their husband. Copyright © 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved