eHealth in support for daily functioning of people with intellectual disability: Views of service users, relatives, and professionals on both its advantages and disadvantages and its facilitating and impeding factors

Abstract

Background: The use of eHealth in support for daily functioning of service users with intellectual disability (ID) is a rather unexplored domain. Therefore, the current study identified the a) level of familiarity, b) advantages/disadvantages, and c) facilitating/impeding factors for the use of eHealth in support for daily functioning of people with ID according to service users, relatives, and professionals.Method: Four focus groups and one semi-structured qualitative interview were conducted.Results: Participants were familiar with numerous eHealth applications. Benefits were related to service users (e.g., increased independency) and relatives/professionals (e.g., providing more efficient support). Adequate informing and involving all stakeholders and centrally positioning the needs and possibilities of service users were reported as important facilitators. Contrary, impeding factors were malfunctioning Internet, expenses of eHealth, and lack of proper IT-support.Conclusions: The results provide imperative information for future eHealth implementations and to direct its use more specifically to people with ID.

Keywords: Intellectual disability; advantages; disadvantages; eHealth; facilitating and impeding factors.