Qualitative Study for the Development of a Telemedicine System in Palliative Care

Abstract

Introduction: Technological advances in public health have allowed the life expectancy of people to increase. However, new challenges appear in populations that age as the greatest number of chronic and oncological diseases requiring chronic and/or palliative care. In Peru, this is an area that has not developed. The use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) can optimize healthcare, and in the case of palliative care they could shorten the distances be-tween the specialist, the caregiver and the patient.
Objective: To know the needs of health professionals and caregivers of patients who are in palliative care, regarding the management of information, knowledge, attitudes and the use of ICT in palliative care.
Materials and Methods: As part of the TeleJampiq project, a first phase of qualitative study is developed. A focus group was conducted with six caregivers. Family members’ informa-tion was obtained through two field reports and two interviews. Finally, the exploration of the needs and suggestions of palliative care specialists was carried out by ten in-depth interviews (six physicians, one psychologist and three nurses). Through the data analysis we were able to identify three major themes in which the results were classified: Management of information on chronic diseases and terminal patients, knowledge and actions in palliative care and use of ICT for palliative care.
Results: Management of information on chronic diseases and terminal patients. It is essential to draw a distinction between terminability and palliation. Managing these concepts could make a difference from the start of treatment. Knowledge and actions in palliative care. Non-family caregivers’ knowledge of the meaning of palliative care is like that of specialists (doc-tors and nurses). Use of ICT for palliative care. The use of mobile devices among health personnel interviewed is overwhelming. Engaging in aspects of information management to other specialists such as nutritionists and psychologists would be beneficial.
Conclusions: It is necessary to use ICT in the field of chronic and palliative care, being a fundamental aspect the communication between personnel working in the system and the use of scales, care protocols, among others.