Implementation of Telemonitoring in Health Care: Facilitators and Barriers for Using eHealth for Older Adults with Chronic Conditions

PURPOSE: The retrospective study used a hybrid design aimed to a) describe the implementation process of telemonitoring from stakeholders’ perspectives and b) identify facilitators and barriers perceived by the care team. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Qualitative interview data were analyzed using manifest inductive qualitative content analysis to describe what was perceived as barriers and what facilitated the implementation. Participating healthcare professionals recruited from a multi-professional care team in Sweden. Overall, 14 healthcare professionals comprising 8 assistant nurses, 3 nurses, 1 physiotherapist, 1 occupational therapist, and one general practitioner participated in five interviews. RESULTS: Four categories were derived from the interview analysis: previous experience with digital technology, the need for preparation before implementation, perceptions of using telemonitoring in daily practice from the patient’s perspective, and perceptions of the relevance and reasons for applying telemonitoring from the care team’s perspective. The identification of stakeholders and the need to plan carefully when proposing the introduction of telemonitoring systems into work practices are both crucial. CONCLUSION: The attitudes of healthcare professionals can be a significant factor in the acceptance and efficiency of the use of telemonitoring in practice. Therefore, implementing new technology in healthcare should involve healthcare professionals at an early stage to gain common understanding.