Technology Use In Patient Teaching Report Examples

Technology use in patient teaching

Overview
The most significant and most challenging service that nurses offer to patients is patient education. In various industries, individuals find it difficult to adapt to changes that alter preexisting methods that have previously proven efficient. However, very simple alterations can help transform and develop patient education programs. Under normal circumstances, if the current process is inefficient, there are clear implications and thus it may requisite a solution. When creating patient education manuals achieving, consistency might be a problem and, therefore, necessary to automate the process.

Background

The Internet When Providing Patient Education
The internet has transformed the way patients learn about and cope with their diseases especially those with chronic illnesses such as cancer. Patients that are newly diagnosed with cancer in most cases require information to educate them on related to diagnosis and treatment. Prior to 1991 there was no internet according to studies by 2007 71% of American adults had access to the internet and 80% searched for health information (Anderson, A. S., & Klemm,2008). In addition, reports indicate that a high percentage of patients sought the information on the internet before consulting their physicians. Cost reduction measures executed by insurance firms is partly the reason for health related web surfing.
Though information technology assists, consumers formulate informed decisions about improved health care accessing the information on the internet may be difficult. The provider-patient correlation was long based on a paternalistic approach, which has shifted to one that involves the patients in all matters of decision-making. It is important for caregivers to provide accurate and timely information.

Challenges in Providing Patient Information

For patients who experience high anxiety levels especially those diagnosed with cancer teaching is less effective. Patient safety is reliant on the sufficient knowledge of the side effects of treatment and managing them at home. The best edifying plans ensure that the content, extent and timing of information given to patients are customized to meet their needs. Innovative teaching methods are the appropriate approach for patients who have challenges using standard written materials, auditory, and visual information. Therefore, caregivers with adequate knowledge on information technology are best suited for the current educational needs.
The rapidly changing world of technology has proved to be a primary challenge for nurses specifically computer technology. The internet has vast information that is at the disposal of users who turn to the Internet for health-related information before seeking advice from doctors (Plaete et al., 2015). Patients react differently to information they access on the internet some find it enlightening others may undergo through aggravation and apprehension. Health information that patients get from friends, media and family tends to be conflicting, and the role of a nurse is to teach and assist patients access and evaluate information so that can make informed decisions. It is important that caregivers be informed that information from external sources might not be in tandem with oncologist’s information.

Difficulties of Incorporating Internet Educational Resources

Adopting the Internet and new computer technology as a resource for information is a subject that nurses feel uneasy about using it as a source of patient teaching. Many nurses and patients value the interpersonal communication in order to derive contentment from providing hands-on care. Though the benefits of interpersonal contact are critical, they may inhibit the taking over that may move nursing forward as a profession by health information technology (HIT). Other factors that inhibit using HIT to develop nursing practice include lack of training, lack of inline access in hospitals and inadequate time.

Ensuring that Technology Use is Ethical

In order for the successful integration of online sources to patient education, administrative support is critical. However, some employers have concerns that employees may abuse this initiative by using the internet inappropriately. However, sufficient access should be allocated to computer terminals and the time put in locating suitable information from the internet should be viewed as productive. In addition, other individuals in the medical field should appreciate the teaching elements of nursing practice.

Balancing Cost and Benefits

Costs are a major subject of discussion when a healthcare system is run using technology. For instance, the United States health care system is viewed as the most costly healthcare system globally and technology is a primary reason for this fact (Holzman, 2014). However, these technologies save lives and improve millions of lives but at times the development of technology is placed ahead, and a need is established only because technology exists. In addition, using technology relies mostly on an individual’s capacity to cater for the cost of that technology. Based on this principle, it is important to acknowledge the many healthcare disparities that still subsist.

Technology Preparation Enables the Nursing Workforce and the Assurance of Ongoing Competency

According to Judy Murphy a deputy Coordinator of Programs and Policy at the Health Information Technology, the primary concern for nurses was to provide healthcare and the provision of healthcare information was secondary. However, she argues that currently the provision of healthcare information and caring for patients go hand in hand thus, the making of informed decisions. Nursing is primarily a profession founded on information that fosters health care whereby technology aids in the bringing of all data to the point of care (Dontje, Corser & Holzman, 2014).

Advantages of Incorporating Technology in Patient Education and Support

Technology facilitates the establishment of precise, current and complete information concerning patients during care.
It allows fast and easy access to patient records, which leads to coordinated and efficient care.
Nurses and doctors can share information with their patients and other clinicians.
Technology assists healthcare providers to more effectively reduce medical errors, diagnose patients and provide safer care.
It develops provider and patient relationship, communication and health care convenience.
It enables safer and reliable prescription.
Aids in promoting decipherable, complete documentation and accurate, streamlined coding and billing.
It emphasizes on security and privacy of patient information.
Health care providers can develop productivity and balance life at work.
Through technology health care providers improve efficiency and attain their organizational objectives
Operational costs are reduced immensely due to decreased paperwork, improved safety, reduced replication of testing and improved health.
Disadvantages of Incorporating Technology in Patient Education and Support
Information in excess
An internet search may not produce results relevant to what the patient personally wanted. Excessive information can challenge patients psychologically and emotionally. Individuals who come across an array of treatment choices online may anticipate too much. For instance, they may discover that they are unable to act upon the information.

Limited Access

The usefulness of the internet is inhibited by accessibility factors, individuals who have higher incomes and education can afford a computer and access the internet. On the other hand, those from low incomes levels and less education or disabled face challenges. In addition, lack of general interest is a primary barrier to internet access.

Security and Privacy

Information on the Internet may be accessed and collected without the consent of patients as much health-related sites do not have privacy protections.
In 2013, it was estimated that 25.8 million people live with diabetes in the United States. Majority of this people had type 2 diabetes and if, not properly managed multiple complications such as kidney disease, stroke, heart disease, etc. can arise. Diabetes can only be effectively controlled by using a multifaceted program. The complexity in which diabetes manifests itself makes it challenging for those living with the disease to control it individually (Faridi et el., 2008). However, with technology self-management plans can be made easy by offering education and visual feedback of self-management behaviors.
Individuals diagnosed with diabetes are encouraged to adhere to a healthy diet, monitor the glucose levels, physical exercise, and take the prescribed medicine, etc. Self-management has been proven to decrease the chances of complications by far. For this reason, technology is increasingly used to assist individuals living with diabetes with self-management. New advancements in technology can be employed to develop self-management by persuading patients to take part in activities and programs associated with their illness. Interventions through technology provide commitment to enhancing self-efficacy and support for diabetes self-management.
According to a research study conducted, three different methods were employed in diabetes education delivery these included two distinct web interactive methods and one traditional face-to-face education. Significant relationships were established linked to increased website usage and high knowledge in diabetes. For this reason, researchers concluded that electronically delivered education can still be as effective as the traditional face-to-face delivery methods and may provide alternatives for self-management education on diabetes.
Another study was conducted on a text message-based method. It was carried out by sending participants text messages concerning medication, foot care and appointment reminders. The intervention improved self-efficacy for self-management by providing feedback on self-management. Qualitatively those who participated in the study acknowledged that the text message intervention increased self-awareness and control. Diabetes outcomes may be greatly improved by improved access to health care provider, diabetes education and self-management behavior tracking. Health care providers are expected to establish and execute self-management support technology programs to meet need to deliver individualized, cost-effective care that can reach into communities and homes (Hahn & Bartel, 2014).

Nursing Skillfulness Needed to Suitably Counter Emerging Technologies

The critical leader skill of the age is the ability to handle human knowledge and transform it into useful services and products. There are several leadership skills that nurses should be equipped with to respond appropriately to emerging technologies. These include the capacity to employ technology to ease mobile, communication relationships, having proficiency in understanding information, attainment, and circulation, and comprehending and applying the genomics in n

Employing Technology to Ease Mobile Communication and Relationships

This skill set is estimated to be more vital in the approaching 21st century. According to the Healthy People 2020 plan, one of the goals established is to employ health information technology and health communication strategies to develop health results and medical value and to attain health impartiality. Healthy People 2020 propose that social support networks may originate from communication and health IT that holds up shared decision-making involving patients and health care providers. Health IT can deliver accessible, accurate and actionable health data that is customized. It can also help promote the exchange of information among health care providers and other professionals. In addition, a properly maintained IT health can allow easy and fast access to plans during health crisis, enhance health literacy abilities, establish new platforms to link with culturally diverse and populations that are hard to reach. Lastly, IT health offers sane policies in the construction of plans and involvements that lead to healthier habits.

Having Proficiency in Understanding Information, Attainment, and Circulation

Computers will persist in play critical roles in information acquirement and circulation since they have important prospects to tremendously expand the memory and cognitive capacity and ability. For this reason, computers will turn into a dominant tool to aid nurses in becoming well-organized and useful and to weigh tactical leadership and decision-making when applied correctly.
Nurses should therefore be consistent with their efforts to become professionals at information management. Especially in a profession where the knowledge doubles after every six years nurses need computers for storage, as this is too much information to hold (Smaldino, Lowther & Russell, 2008). Thus, the need to be experts, involves nurses obtaining and circulating information.

Comprehending and Employing Genomics in Nursing

If individuals wish to gain from genome discoveries, nurses must capable of acquiring well-covered family histories. Thus involves establishing family members that are likely to develop a genome induced condition and genomic caused drug reactions, aid people make precise decisions and comprehend the outcomes of genomic tests and procedures. Lastly refer individuals at risk to the right professionals. Critics argue that introducing all nurses in the U.S workforce to the vanguard of genetics health care process is required, as they must obtain health-related information (Roukos, 2008).

Health Literacy

When printing instructional materials to hand to clients it significant that health literacy be a primary consideration. The information on the materials must be easy to read and comprehend. Health literacy is increasingly becoming a subject of interest amongst health professional and particular significance for nurses as educators of patient information. It is required to aid patients and caregivers to understand how to take medications, adhere to treatments and answer to radio and TV warnings about the recall of any products flagged as unhealthy.

Types of Instructional Materials

Instructional materials enhance and complement the learning and teaching process, and therefore they do not entirely replace teaching. They help patients understand perceptions and preserve information when various materials are employed. Illustrations help individuals understand concepts faster than many words would. Some of the types of instructional materials are World Wide Web, printed materials, multimedia and the internet.

Selecting Instructional Materials

It is vital that when selecting instructional materials that one reviews the learning objectives, teaching strategies and teaching content and how to supplement all these. For instance, the merit of using computer-assisted instruction is the client controls the learning pace in that accurate responses are reinforced immediately. The demerit is that it is time consuming for nurses to monitor. When selecting computer-assisted instruction, it is vital that nurses choose the most user-friendly.

Conclusion

As the technology rapidly advances, it is necessary for health care providers to recreate methods of educating and aiding patients to self-manage. For instance, individuals living with diabetes need to understand the integrated treatment plan and alter and maintain daily habits. Nurses must comprehend the degree in which the internet has affected the mannerisms in which patients learn and cope with their ailment. Although integrating technology into patient teaching is challenging there are numerous advantages associated with the outcome.
Given the fact the internet has loads of information this aspect may overwhelm some of its users. On the other hand, some maybe less advantaged and may not have access to the internet due to low income, physical disabilities, and illiteracy. Through the computer, skill acquired from the nursing practice nurses can offer a foundation for integrating online resources. IT has great prospect of transforming and developing health however more research may be required to determine the economic evaluations. The ability to use and utilize patient-centered applications and devices should be dealt with in the early stages of design and the patient needs, limitations and expiations should be taken into consideration. There also needs to be systems and mechanisms in place that can weigh the shared decision-making and patient empowerment.

References

Anderson, A. S., & Klemm, P. (2008). The Internet: friend or foe when providing patient education?. Clinical journal of oncology nursing, 12(1), 55-63.
Dontje, K., Corser, W. D., & Holzman, G. (2014). Understanding Patient Perceptions of the Electronic Personal Health Record. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 10(10), 824-828.
Faridi, Z., Liberti, L., Shuval, K., Northrup, V., Ali, A., & Katz, D. L. (2008). Evaluating the impact of mobile telephone technology on type 2 diabetic patients’ self‐management: the NICHE pilot study. Journal of evaluation in clinical practice, 14(3), 465-469.
Hahn, J. E., & Bartel, C. (2014). Teaching gaming with technology in the classroom: so you want to be an educator?. Nursing education perspectives,35(3), 197-198.
Holzman, G. (2014). Understanding Patient Perceptions of the Electronic Personal Health Record.
Plaete, J., Crombez, G., DeSmet, A., Deveugele, M., Verloigne, M., & De Bourdeaudhuij, I. (2015). What do general practitioners think about an online self-regulation programme for health promotion? Focus group interviews. BMC Family Practice, 16(1), 3.
Roukos, D. H. (2008). Genetics and genome-wide association studies: surgery-guided algorithm and promise for future breast cancer personalized surgery.
Smaldino, S. E., Lowther, D. L., & Russell, J. D. (2008). Instructional technology and media for learning.