A case study exploring elements within the use of mobile technologies for health service delivery
Objective –
exploring new technologies and tools for patient participation in healthcare delivery.
The broad topic of study centres on mobile devices and microblogging tools.
The aim of this study is to determine and understand issues/factors and tease out perceptions and expectations surrounding the non-use and potential role of mobile technologies and microblogging tools within the context of delivering midwifery services. Current practices, risks, advantages, potential and actual use of mobile microblogging tools to augment current practice will be explored within the context of midwifery service delivery.
More specifically, perceptions of trust, surveillance and their relationship to consumer satisfaction in midwifery service delivery will be investigated.
1 Technologies (Mobile phones and microblogging (SMS updates))
2 Research Questions
1 What are initial perceptions of consumers and healthcare professionals regarding the value of using mobile technology?
2 Does mobile microblogging change the communication and the relationship between the professional healthcare provider/consumer communication and relationship?
3 Is there a psychosocial and trust benefit that mobile microblogging tools provide greater than the trust that is provided by the healthcare provider without these tools?
4 What is the positive or negative impact of mobile technologies in the dispensing of trusted health/wellness-related information and services to users?
5 What are the barriers (perceived or otherwise) and facilitators to acceptance of this technology?
6 Are there time saving efficiencies available with the use of microblogging tools?
7 What is the effect of seeding a mobile microblogging system in different groups, as measured by the level of uptake?
8 Does mobile microblogging assist to make beneficial lifestyle choices?
9 Is the social presence on a mobile microblogging application mutually beneficial to all parties?
10 Can mobile microblogging provide access to higher-class medical/health information?
11 Would the security concerns affect uptake of usage of this tool?
3 Midwives’ Interview Guide
Greetings
I would like to explain the purpose of this interview. Internet and mobile technologies have come a long way in the last few years and we are interested in seeing how you feel about them in health settings. I appreciate your time to help us understand this from your point of view.
I would like to ask a few initial questions.
· Age range
· Caseload
· Use of Maternity Plus
· Use of Maternity Notes
· Type of Practice (group/single)
Now I would like you to discuss some other aspects of your midwifery practice.
1. What mobile ICT are you currently using?
2. How do you use the computer? Do you use social media on the Internet?
3. How do you feel about using mobile devices for communicating with the mother?
There is technology that would allow a mother to send SMS to a website that you could read and respond to. These are simply short status updates from the mother to you. You would be able to read them on a web page on your computer.
4. Do you think these short status updates would be helpful to you? How? Why?
5. Would they be helpful to the mother?
Could they influence your ways of being watchful and committed to the mother?
Treating the mother as an individual?
Making the mother feel as though you are going the extra mile with her care?
6. What would the influence be on your partnership with the mother?
7. What are your attitudes/feelings/views on communication and the emotional connection with the mother?
8. What are your attitudes/feelings/views on surveillance in your journey with the mother? What are the benefits/risks/constraints with the use of technology?
9. What are your attitudes/feelings/views on education/knowledge and assisting the mother to make informed choices?
10. How do you learn of the mother’s needs and choices? Could there be a place for using technology? What are the benefits/risks/constraints?
11. What are your feelings on using new technologies in your midwifery practice?
Thanks and appreciation.
Greetings.
4 Mothers’ interview guide
Greetings etc.
Thank you for agreeing to be interviewed. I would like to find out your thoughts and impressions about your use of mobile phones, and possibly using them to update the midwife onyour progress during your pregnancy and just after the baby has been born.
Risks and benefits
12. What mobile ICT do you use? How do you use it?
13. How do you feel about using mobile phones for communication with your midwife?
14. There are technologies available that would allow you to SMS short status updates to the midwife. What are your feelings and views? Would this be useful? Why? Could you expand on this?
15. How did you find the midwife’s ways of sharing knowledge and information? Would there be a place for using the Internet?
16. What about your feelings/views on the midwife using the SMS status updates for your surveillance in your journey with the Midwife?
17. What are your opinions on using SMS for appointment reminders and the Internet for making your own appointments?
18. What are your thoughts/views/attitudes about privacy and security and sharing of the information this way?
19. Do you think using SMS after the baby is born would make you feel more ‘connected’ and supported? Why? How?
20. What other thoughts or contributions do you have to the possibility of using mobile devices in this setting?
Appreciation and greetings
5 Probes
Liberal use of probes will be employed.
· Silent probe
· Why?
· Do you know about?
· Please describe….
· What do you think of/about?
· What do you think of ….
· Were you …
· Why did you …
· What makes…
· Why not?
· How have you….
· How did you?
· How did you find….
· What kind of information…
· Have you tried?
· Were there other things?
· When..
· Where..
· How…
· Would you give me an example?
· Can you elaborate on that idea?
· Would you explain that further?
· I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying.
· Is there anything else?
