ABSTRACT
Background@#In this study, with the aim of improving the quality of transitional care service for discharged patients, the Health Care Quality and Outcomes Indicators of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and National Health Service Outcomes Framework of the UK were applied to derive service items for provision and develop evaluation indicators under categories of effectiveness, safety, and patient-centeredness.Method: A scoping review was conducted to derive core concepts and evidence materials/data for transitional care service. For the derived items of transitional care service and evaluation indicators, a three-round Delphi study was conducted with experts in the fields of healthcare/ medicineursing/social welfare. @*Results@#First, as a result of the scoping review, components of transitional care service (assessment of need by period of transitional care service, multi-professional team, connection to community resources, etc.) and themes for outcome indicators (effectiveness, patient safety, patient-centeredness) were derived. Second, by classifying the items for assessment according to the hospitalization and transition period and conducting a Delphi study to derive service items for transitional care service, during the hospitalization period, presence/absence of a caregiver and need for a caregiver, activities of daily living, and necessity for home-based care services were identified as items of high priority. Regarding patient safety, risk of falls and fractures during hospitalization, and necessity for medication reconciliation were identified as the items of high importance. For the transition period, provision of education regarding adequate responses and handling of emergencies, provision of information and guidance on application of services for basic livelihood security program beneficiaries, and education for patient skills in self-management of health were derived as items of high priority. Third, for the derivation of outcome indicators for transitional care service, in the “effectiveness” category, the experts rated a reduction in the 30-day readmission rate as an item of high importance along with a decrease in emergency department visits, reduction in preventable admissions as indicators of high relevance. In terms of “patient safety,” a decrease in drug adverse reactions, and reduction in the incidence of falls and pressure ulcers were identified as indicators of high priority. Finally, for the category of “patient-centeredness,” patient experience assessment, level of service satisfaction reported by patients and their caregivers, and reducing burden on caregivers were identified as indicators of high priority. @*Conclusion@#This study suggest practical implications for the service with high relevance and necessity for transitional period. It also presented outcome indicators of transitional care service to contribute toward an improvement in the quality of care.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#This study explored changes in individuals’ behavior in response to social distancing (SD) levels and the “no gatherings of more than 5 people” (NGM5) rule in Korea during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. @*Methods@#Using survey data from the COVID-19 Behavior Tracker, exploratory factor analysis extracted 3 preventive factors: maintenance of personal hygiene, avoiding going out, and avoiding meeting people. Each factor was used as a dependent variable. The chi-square test was used to compare differences in distributions between categorical variables, while binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with high compliance with measures to prevent transmission. @*Results@#In men, all 3 factors were significantly associated with lower compliance. Younger age groups were associated with lower compliance with maintenance of personal hygiene and avoiding meeting people. Employment status was significantly associated with avoiding going out and avoiding meeting people. Residence in the capital area was significantly associated with higher compliance with personal hygiene and avoiding venturing out. Increasing SD levels were associated with personal hygiene, avoiding going out, and avoiding meeting people. The NGM5 policy was not significantly associated with compliance. @*Conclusions@#SD levels, gender, age, employment status, and region had explanatory power for compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Strengthening social campaigns to inspire voluntary compliance with NPIs, especially focused on men, younger people, full-time workers, and residents of the capital area is recommended. Simultaneously, efforts need to be made to segment SD measures into substrategies with detailed guidance at each level.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#This study explored the direct and indirect effects of knowledge of new technology (e.g., artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution), attitudes towards technology use, and smartphone utilization skills on older adults’ willingness to use home-based information and communication technology (ICT) for self-health management. @*Methods@#A phone survey was conducted among 300 older adults aged 65 or older in Gangwon Province, Republic of Korea. A path analysis was performed to identify the direct and indirect effects of knowledge of new technology, attitudes towards technology use, and smartphone utilization skills on willingness to use home-based healthcare ICT. Socioeconomic variables were used as control variables. @*Results@#Knowledge of new technology, but not attitudes towards technology use, had a direct impact on smartphone utilization skills. Attitude towards technology use and smartphone utilization skills showed significant effects on willingness to use home-based healthcare ICT. One standard unit change in attitudes towards technology use contributed to a 0.172 unit change in willingness (p = 0.001), and one standard unit change in smartphone utilization skills changed willingness by 0.246 units (p < 0.001). In addition, older adults with a higher education level and economic status, and lower self-related health status, were more willing to use home-based healthcare ICT. @*Conclusions@#These findings underscore the necessity of enhancing the smartphone utilization skills of older adults and attitudes towards technology use. Providing more user-friendly services and increasing smartphone utilization skills among older adults would contribute to willingness to use home-based ICT for healthcare management.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#This study explored changes in individuals’ behavior in response to social distancing (SD) levels and the “no gatherings of more than 5 people” (NGM5) rule in Korea during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. @*Methods@#Using survey data from the COVID-19 Behavior Tracker, exploratory factor analysis extracted 3 preventive factors: maintenance of personal hygiene, avoiding going out, and avoiding meeting people. Each factor was used as a dependent variable. The chi-square test was used to compare differences in distributions between categorical variables, while binary logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with high compliance with measures to prevent transmission. @*Results@#In men, all 3 factors were significantly associated with lower compliance. Younger age groups were associated with lower compliance with maintenance of personal hygiene and avoiding meeting people. Employment status was significantly associated with avoiding going out and avoiding meeting people. Residence in the capital area was significantly associated with higher compliance with personal hygiene and avoiding venturing out. Increasing SD levels were associated with personal hygiene, avoiding going out, and avoiding meeting people. The NGM5 policy was not significantly associated with compliance. @*Conclusions@#SD levels, gender, age, employment status, and region had explanatory power for compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Strengthening social campaigns to inspire voluntary compliance with NPIs, especially focused on men, younger people, full-time workers, and residents of the capital area is recommended. Simultaneously, efforts need to be made to segment SD measures into substrategies with detailed guidance at each level.
ABSTRACT
Objectives@#This study explored the direct and indirect effects of knowledge of new technology (e.g., artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and the Fourth Industrial Revolution), attitudes towards technology use, and smartphone utilization skills on older adults’ willingness to use home-based information and communication technology (ICT) for self-health management. @*Methods@#A phone survey was conducted among 300 older adults aged 65 or older in Gangwon Province, Republic of Korea. A path analysis was performed to identify the direct and indirect effects of knowledge of new technology, attitudes towards technology use, and smartphone utilization skills on willingness to use home-based healthcare ICT. Socioeconomic variables were used as control variables. @*Results@#Knowledge of new technology, but not attitudes towards technology use, had a direct impact on smartphone utilization skills. Attitude towards technology use and smartphone utilization skills showed significant effects on willingness to use home-based healthcare ICT. One standard unit change in attitudes towards technology use contributed to a 0.172 unit change in willingness (p = 0.001), and one standard unit change in smartphone utilization skills changed willingness by 0.246 units (p < 0.001). In addition, older adults with a higher education level and economic status, and lower self-related health status, were more willing to use home-based healthcare ICT. @*Conclusions@#These findings underscore the necessity of enhancing the smartphone utilization skills of older adults and attitudes towards technology use. Providing more user-friendly services and increasing smartphone utilization skills among older adults would contribute to willingness to use home-based ICT for healthcare management.