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Review
. 2021 Jan;180(1):1-12.
doi: 10.1007/s00431-020-03737-x. Epub 2020 Jul 24.

A systematic concept analysis of 'technology dependent': challenging the terminology

Maria Brenner  1 , Denise Alexander  2 , Mary Brigid Quirke  2 , Jessica Eustace-Cook  3 , Piet Leroy  4 , Jay Berry  5 , Martina Healy  6   7 , Carmel Doyle  2 , Kate Masterson  2   8
Affiliations
Review

A systematic concept analysis of 'technology dependent': challenging the terminology

Maria Brenner et al. Eur J Pediatr. 2021 Jan.

Abstract

There are an increasing number of children who are dependent on medical technology to sustain their lives. Although significant research on this issue is taking place, the terminology used is variable and the concept of technology dependence is ill-defined. A systematic concept analysis was conducted examining the attributes, antecedents, and consequences of the concept of technology dependent, as portrayed in the literature. We found that this concept refers to a wide range of clinical technology to support biological functioning across a dependency continuum, for a range of clinical conditions. It is commonly initiated within a complex biopsychosocial context and has wide ranging sequelae for the child and family, and health and social care delivery.Conclusion: The term technology dependent is increasingly redundant. It objectifies a heterogenous group of children who are assisted by a myriad of technology and who adapt to, and function with, this assistance in numerous ways. What is Known: • There are an increasing number of children who require medical technology to sustain their life, commonly referred to as technology dependent. This concept analysis critically analyses the relevance of the term technology dependent which is in use for over 30 years. What is New: • Technology dependency refers to a wide range of clinical technology to support biological functioning across a dependency continuum, for a range of clinical conditions. It is commonly initiated within a complex biopsychosocial context and has wide-ranging sequelae for the child and family, and health and social care delivery. • The paper shows that the term technology dependent is generally portrayed in the literature in a problem-focused manner. • This term is increasingly redundant and does not serve the heterogenous group of children who are assisted by a myriad of technology and who adapt to, and function with, this assistance in numerous ways. More appropriate child-centred terminology will be determined within the TechChild project.

Keywords: Child; Complex needs; Concept analysis; Family; Technology dependence.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest and have no financial relationship with the organisation that sponsored the research.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Data search and selection process
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Key characteristics of the attributes, antecedents, and consequences of technology dependence required to sustain a child’s life
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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