Telemedicine consultations with physicians in Swedish primary care: a mixed methods study of users' experiences and care patterns.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to explore users' experiences and care patterns concerning telemedicine consultations with physicians in Swedish primary care from 2017 to 2019.Design and participants: A mixed methods study involving 26 qualitative interviews with users of telemedicine consultations from a national sample, complemented by a quantitative registry study of data from 10,400 users in a Swedish region. RESULTS: Users mainly described telemedicine consultations as a positive experience and perceived that the service met their current health care needs. Users also valued high accessibility, timesaving, and the contribution to ecological sustainability. Users felt competent about choosing when to use telemedicine consultations, most commonly for less severe health care concerns. This was confirmed by the quantitative results; only a few users had other care contacts within physical primary care before, or after, the telemedicine consultation, attended acute care or phoned 1177 Health Care Guidance. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a rare account of users' experiences of telemedicine consultations. Users expressed satisfaction with this up-to-date use of health care resources for them as individuals, the health care system, and the environment. Telemedicine consultations were perceived as efficient and safe according to users. In addition, the study shows a low degree of further physical contacts in primary care or in acute care related to the telemedicine consultations.Key pointsUsers have positive experiences of telemedicine consultations with physicians and experienced that the service had meet their actual needs for health care.Users were mainly satisfied with the service and highlighted the value of high accessibility.Users experienced that telemedicine consultants provided an alternative care service for mostly minor health problems, perceiving them to save time and resources for themselves, the health care system, and the environment.Most telemedicine consultations did not result in additional contacts with 1177 Health Care Guidance, physical visits to primary care, or acute health care.Telemedicine consultations with physicians were mainly used by persons aged 0-30 years and need to be further developed to suit other age groups.

On the threshold: older people's concerns about needs after discharge from hospital.

Discharge from hospital is often strenuous for older people and requires adjustments from living an independent life to being in need of care and support. This study aims to explore older people's concerns about their needs after discharge. Twenty-seven observations recorded at hospital discharge planning meetings were analysed with content analysis. An overarching theme emerged: being in a life transition, which reflected the older person's vulnerable and ambiguous situation in the discharge process. The theme was developed from three categories: obtaining a secure life situation, need of continuous care and support, and influencing and regaining independence. The findings highlight that older patients want to influence their care after discharge. They strive to regain independence and express their concerns about how to obtain a secure life situation through care organised to fit their individual needs. Knowledge about older people's concerns is important for healthcare providers and social workers involved in planning and individualised care and services.

Where Superman is not on staff--on implementation and lacking feedback.

Computer systems tend to deliver less than promised. In this article we investigate mechanisms that contribute to this gap through a computer system supposed to facilitate discharge planning. The aim of this system is to increase efficiency and quality, and make information exchange safer. We do the investigation from the perspective of Science and Technology Studies (STS) and skill acquisition. We find that information tends to be hindered from entering the system, rather than ending up in the wrong places as the case was before. Further knowledge that earlier was gleaned from person to person interaction is missing out. Despite being sparse and limited, the information stored in the system is sufficient to enable action. We therefore see that one risk is exchanged for another. In total, patient safety might suffer, and hence staff ought to compensate for this. This in turn reduces efficiency and hence also the promised gain from the system.