“In a Way We Took the Hospital Home”—A Descriptive Mixed-Methods Study of Parents’ Usage and Experiences of eHealth for Self-Management after Hospital Discharge Due to Pediatric Surgery or Preterm Birth

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 18; no. 12; p. 6480
• Main Authors: Lindkvist, Rose-Marie, Sjöström-Strand, Annica, Landgren, Kajsa, Johnsson, Björn A., Stenström, Pernilla, Hallström, Inger Kristensson
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 15-06-2021; MDPI
• Subjects: App; Birth; Children; Children & youth; Communication; Content analysis; Data collection; EHealth; Families & family life; Galvanic corrosion; Health care; Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy; Health Sciences; Home-based care; Hospital-to-home transition; Hospitals; Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi; Hälsovetenskap; Interviews; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Mixed methods research; Neonatal care; Neonates; Pandemics; Parents; Parents & parenting; Patients; Pediatric surgery; Pediatrics; Premature birth; Preterm born; Qualitative analysis; Short message service; Software; Surgery; Tablet; Telephone calls; Web browsers; Sweden
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126480

The costly and complex needs for children with long-term illness are challenging. Safe eHealth communication is warranted to facilitate health improvement and care services. This mixed-methods study aimed to describe parents’ usage and experiences of communicating with professionals during hospital-to-home-transition after their child’s preterm birth or surgery for colorectal malformations, using an eHealth device, specifically designed for communication and support via nurses at the hospital. The eHealth devices included the possibility for daily reports, video calls, text messaging, and sending images. Interviews with 25 parents were analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Usage data from eHealth devices were compiled from database entries and analyzed statistically. Parents using the eHealth device expressed reduced worry and stress during the initial period at home through effective and safe communication. Benefits described included keeping track of their child’s progress and having easy access to support whenever needed. This was corroborated by usage data indicating that contact was made throughout the day, and more among families living far away from hospital. The eHealth device potentially replaced phone calls and prevented unnecessary visits. The eHealth technique can aid safe self-treatment within child- and family-centered care in neonatal and pediatric surgery treatment. Future research may consider organization perspectives and health economics.