- 期刊
A Pilot Study of the Telecare Medical Support System as an Intervention in Dementia Care: The Views and Experiences of Primary Caregivers
失智症照顧者使用遠距照護支援系統經驗之先導研究
摘要
背景 失智症病患因病情的改變，早中期常出現記憶減退、妄想、幻覺、遊走等神經精神症狀，疾病後期更因日常生活能力減退及依賴情形，往往造成家庭照顧負擔。國外遠距照護支援系統應用於失智症照護早已行之有年，也非常成功，然而在台灣卻可能因為就醫文化等原因而窒礙難行。目的 本研究欲探討失智症主要照顧者使用遠距照護支援系統的經驗及感受，包含認知系統的易用性及有用性，並進一步討論該系統運用於失智症家庭之具體效益。方法 選取30戶失智症主要照顧者家庭為研究對象，在使用六個月的遠距照護支援系統後，研究人員透過質性研究方式，進行一小時的深度訪談以收集資料，並由四位資深護理人員進行內容分析。結果 本研究有63.3%屬於輕中度的阿茲海默氏症病患，且大部份患有些許的行為或精神問題。使用系統六個月後，大部分的個案對系統有用性及易用性均表示讚許，認為系統可自動偵測病人安全、提供照顧者照護輔助及心理支持，並能穩定失智患者的病情及情緒。結論 遠距照護支援系統確實對失智症有具體的貢獻，可提供患者家庭全天候照護決策的支援與生活關懷服務，讓主要照顧者感到不再是一人孤軍奮戰，且可透過資訊科技讓醫療照護無所不在。
並列摘要
Background: As a progressive degenerative illness, dementia can reveal itself through a variety of symptoms such as intellectual deterioration, loss of recent memory, loss of cognitive ability, and psychological and behavioral problems. The telecare medical support system (TMSS) has been a part of dementia care in many countries for many years. Although worth considering, the TMSS model is difficult to directly implement in Taiwan because of cultural and social issues.Purpose: This study explores the ease of use and usefulness of TMSS from the perspective of primary caregivers and assesses the benefits of TMSS in home dementia care.Methods: We used a qualitative research method to explore the experience and perceptions of 30 primary caregivers who each used TMSS for 6 months in dementia care. Data were collected using 1-hour in-depth interviews. Four senior nurses conducted the content analysis.Results: Approximately two thirds (63.3%) of the participants were primary caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease in the mild to medium stage of their illness. After using TMSS for the 6-month study period, participants held generally positive views of its usefulness and ease of use. Participants generally appreciated the ability of TMSS to self-diagnose care recipient conditions; provide reminders, care, and emotional support; and help stabilize the care recipient's condition and emotions.Conclusions: We showed TMSS as an effective tool that helps reduce primary caregiver isolation and uncertainty and provides round-the-clock care management and safety checks using advanced technology and a professional care team. TMSS can effectively enhance dementia care.