A realist synthesis of mobile application-enabled communication for patients in end-of-life care and in light of the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic restrictions have led to extended usage of virtual communication technology in healthcare, especially via mobile applications. Understanding the adoption of mobile applicationenabled communication in end-of-life care in particular is important to improve its usage for patients and carers. This is a pertinent topic in light of the pandemic and the higher health risks of this population group. Aims: To explore the use of mobile application-enabled communication for end-of-life care patients and their carers. Methods (design, data collection, analysis) A realist synthesis approach is being adopted, using six databases and other information sources from 2005 to present. Data screening and quality assessment will be carried out by two reviewers independently. Discrepancies and disagreements will be discussed and resolved by a third reviewer. Data abstraction will use the context, mechanism, and outcome approach to capture specific information about the theories around the development, adoption, and use of mobile application-enabled technologies in end-of-life care. (https// www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display-record.php?RecordID=231535) Results: A total of 666 abstracts were screened and 218 full texts are being analysed. The project is ongoing, and the results will be presented at the meeting. A summary table of the theories around the development, adoption, and use of mobile application-enabled technologies in end-of-life care will be used to create a logic model of the link between empirical data and theories. Conclusion / Discussion: The study will highlight the theories which explain the adoption of technology use in end-of-life care. The realist synthesis uses the available theories as a starting point and the empirical findings to build on these. The results will help to inform the applicability of a blended model of face-to-face and virtual communication after the end of the pandemic.