Rose McCloskey1, Pamela Jarrett2, Connie Stewart3, Lisa Keeping-Burke1. 1. Department of Nursing & Health Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. 2. Horizon Health Network, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. 3. Department of Computer Science & Applied Statistics, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Technology has the potential to offer support to older adults after being discharged from geriatric rehabilitation. This article highlights recruitment and retention challenges in a study examining an interactive voice response telephone system designed to monitor and support older adults and their informal caregivers following discharge from a geriatric rehabilitation unit. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study was planned to examine the feasibility of an interactive voice telephone system in facilitating the transition from rehabilitation to home for older adults and their family caregivers. Patient participants were required to make daily calls into the system. Using standardized instruments, data was to be collected at baseline and during home visits. FINDINGS: Older adults and their caregivers may not be willing to learn how to use new technology at the time of hospital discharge. Poor recruitment and retention rates prevented analysis of findings. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCY: The importance of recruitment and retention in any study should never be underestimated. Target users of any intervention need to be included in both the design of the intervention and the study examining its benefit. Identifying the issues associated with introducing technology with a group of older rehabilitation patients should assist others who are interested in exploring the role of technology in facilitating hospital discharge.
PURPOSE: Technology has the potential to offer support to older adults after being discharged from geriatric rehabilitation. This article highlights recruitment and retention challenges in a study examining an interactive voice response telephone system designed to monitor and support older adults and their informal caregivers following discharge from a geriatric rehabilitation unit. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study was planned to examine the feasibility of an interactive voice telephone system in facilitating the transition from rehabilitation to home for older adults and their family caregivers. Patientparticipants were required to make daily calls into the system. Using standardized instruments, data was to be collected at baseline and during home visits. FINDINGS: Older adults and their caregivers may not be willing to learn how to use new technology at the time of hospital discharge. Poor recruitment and retention rates prevented analysis of findings. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCY: The importance of recruitment and retention in any study should never be underestimated. Target users of any intervention need to be included in both the design of the intervention and the study examining its benefit. Identifying the issues associated with introducing technology with a group of older rehabilitation patients should assist others who are interested in exploring the role of technology in facilitating hospital discharge.
Authors: Yuri Quintana; Darren Fahy; Bradley Crotty; Ruchira Jain; Eli Kaldany; Maxwel Gorenberg; Lewis Lipsitz; Diane Engorn; Jorge Rodriguez; Alex Orfanos; Adarsha Bajracharya; Juan Henao; May Adra; David Skerry; Warner V Slack; Charles Safran Journal: AMIA Annu Symp Proc Date: 2018-12-05
Authors: Hardeep Singh; Terence Tang; Carolyn Steele Gray; Kristina Kokorelias; Rachel Thombs; Donna Plett; Matthew Heffernan; Carlotta M Jarach; Alana Armas; Susan Law; Heather V Cunningham; Jason Xin Nie; Moriah E Ellen; Kednapa Thavorn; Michelle LA Nelson Journal: JMIR Aging Date: 2022-05-19