Health Care Professionals' Experiences in Telerehabilitation: Qualitative Content Analysis

Abstract

Background: The use of digital communication in Swedish health care has increased in an effort to make health care more accessible. At the organizational level, trust in digitalization has stabilized, but a certain degree of skepticism regarding technology appears to exist among health care employees.

Objective: This study aimed to explore health care professionals' (HCPs) experiences of digital communication with patients and colleagues in a habilitation context.

Methods: Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze data derived from individual interviews.

Results: The results revealed that there were mixed feelings regarding the digital format used at the habilitation center. Although some skepticism remained regarding the digital format, there seemed to be a parallel understanding of the motives and benefits of digitalization. Hence, positive aspects, such as increased health care accessibility, were identified. However, emphasis was placed on the considerations required to make digital consultations appropriate for each patient.

Conclusions: Managing a workday influenced by the balance between digital and physical demands forces HCPs to adjust to the digital format and new ways of working. This requires HCPs to consider whether digital means are appropriate for communication in individual patient-specific cases.

Keywords: HCP; acceptability; accessibility; digitalization; eHealth; experience; habilitation; health care; health care digital encounters; health care employees; health care professionals; perspectives; telemedicine; telerehabilitation; workflow.