Smart Healthcare Adoption Factors in Nursing Homes in Ireland - an Exploratory Research

Abstract

Covid-19 outbreaks have happened in many nursing homes and caused many residents to lose their lives around the world. Smart healthcare could be a solution to prevent outbreaks by early detection. However, the installation rate of smart healthcare in nursing homes in Ireland is low. Moreover, very little researches have been done to examine adoption factors of smart healthcare in Long-term care facilities. Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the adoption factors of smart healthcare systems in nursing homes in Ireland and to explore the functional features that could be helpful to care givers. Methods An on-line structured questionnaire survey method was used to collect data from 30 participants working in nursing homes in Ireland. Chi-squared test and the Spearman’s correlations were used for statistical analyses. Results The study determined that the usefulness, technology acceptance and the encouragement from the media or the government are positive adoption factors. While the cost and the technology anxiety of staff and elderly customers are negative adoption factors. With regard to the expected functions, monitoring vital signs and falls were mentioned the most. Conclusion This study is one of the first scholarly attempts at adoption factors of smart healthcare system in nursing in Ireland. It provides valuable information from the service users’ sites to help the stakeholders to design or promote the use of smart healthcare systems in LTCFs.