Exploring nurses' experiences of using digital health technologies to deliver care within the general practice setting: a mixed method study.

Hart-Winks, Erin Beth

Abstract

Background: Defining digital healthcare is not an easy task as globally there does not seem to be a universally accepted definition. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines digital health as “the use of information and communication technologies for health”. The Digital Health Innovation for Scotland (DHI) (2022) have identified digital health technologies (DHT) to include: connected health, eHealth, ePatients, Health Information Technology, mobile health (mHealth), telehealth, telemedicine and many more. Nursing is rapidly becoming a digitally driven profession and the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the need for digital technologies to be used across the board within healthcare to deliver care remotely, communicate with patients and colleagues and access information, services and training facilities. By understanding how DHT are being adopted and used, healthcare providers and researchers, can develop more effective strategies to integrate these technologies into everyday healthcare. Currently, a large portion of the literature on DHT within general practice is focused on the delivery of care from doctors. Aims: The overall aim of this study was to explore digital technologies (such as but not limited to E-consultations, video consultations (NearMe), and digital devices to monitor conditions, electronic notes) used by nurses to deliver care and manage long term conditions (LTC) within the GP setting. The project aimed to identify strengths and limitations of existing digital technology in practice, including barriers and facilitators to their use, and any training needs for nurses. Methods: This research employed a convergent parallel mixed method study design and a world view of pragmatism was adopted. An online survey was sent via email inviting General Practice Nurses as well as nurses delivering digital care to take part in an interview. The survey was developed on JISC and a Likert rating scale approach was used throughout some of the survey. The survey responses were then analysed using descriptive analysis to present the data as frequencies and a content analysis process was used for the open text responses. The topic guide was developed using open ended questions from previous literature and research on the topic and once developed the topic guide was piloted prior to interviews. Interviews were then analysed using a thematic analysis method. Key Findings: A total of 24 participants completed the survey and 11 participants were interviewed across three semi-structured interviews and one focus group (n=8). LTCs (Cardiovascular conditions (n=23, 96%), respiratory conditions (n=22, 92%) and then diabetes (n=16, 67%)) were reported as the most common conditions managed by nurses in General Practice through the survey responses. The LTC that were identified by the interviews/focus groups as being managed by nurses in General Practice included: hypertension, diabetes, respiratory conditions, cardiovascular conditions, weight loss/lifestyle, and women’s health management. The framework analysis process, resulted in three main themes: (i) Experience and Confidence using DHT; (ii) Benefits and Challenges of using DHT, and (iii) Perceptions of using DHT. Conclusion: The convergent parallel mixed method study findings were integrated to show the key findings identified through the data analysis. From the data integration, similar types of DHTs and LTCs were identified with communication and management of LTC the most common uses for DHT by nurses in GP settings. The majority of participants saw benefits in using DHT to deliver and manage LTC care and agreed that DHT has a role to play in the delivery of healthcare alongside face-to-face consultations and offering hybrid consultations is the way forward. However, barriers were identified to be addressed for DHT to be able to live up to its potential. These barriers could be addressed by building on this research and this study could be used as a guide for future research on DHTs and their future in General Practice for nurses. Despite the barriers and challenges identified, participants reported using technologies had made their job easier and they welcomed the changes that DHT brought.

Citation

HART-WINKS, E.B. 2025. Exploring nurses' experiences of using digital health technologies to deliver care within the general practice setting: a mixed method study. Robert Gordon University, MRes thesis. Hosted on OpenAIR [online]. Available from: https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-2988767

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Aug 26, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 26, 2025
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.48526/rgu-wt-2988767
• Keywords: Digital healthcare; Digital health technologies; Nursing, Long term conditions; Telehealth
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2988767
• Award Date: Aug 31, 2025