Implementation of a Telerehabilitation Device for Post-Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Patients in a Rehabilitation Program on The Faroe Islands: Exploring Opportunities and Barriers
Authors
Gartner, Alex Voss ; Sivertsson, Bertil Christian Pløen
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2024
Pages
62
Abstract
Hjerte-kar-sygdom er en af de største dødsårsager globalt. Mange med forsnævrede kranspulsårer bliver behandlet med en koronar bypass-operation (coronary artery bypass grafting, CABG). Genoptræningen omfatter hjerterehabilitering med træning, undervisning og opfølgning. Det kan være svært at deltage i centerbaserede forløb over længere tid, hvilket øger risikoen for forringet helbred, genindlæggelser og højere sundhedsudgifter. Telerehabilitering – rehabilitering i hjemmet ved hjælp af digitale løsninger – er et muligt alternativ, men der er begrænset viden om, hvordan sådanne enheder bedst indføres i forløb for CABG-patienter. Dette kvalitative casestudie undersøgte, hvad der fremmer eller hæmmer implementeringen af b-near touchskærmsløsningen på Suðuroy Hospital på Færøerne. Data bestod af dokumenter, direkte ikke-deltagende observationer og semistrukturerede interview med 7 deltagere. Materialet blev analyseret i NVivo med afsæt i Kvale og Brinkmanns interviewprincipper og Normalization Process Theory, som beskriver, hvordan nye praksisser bliver en del af hverdagen. Studiet pegede på både muligheder og barrierer. b-near-systemet understøttede træning og kommunikation mellem patienter og sundhedsprofessionelle, var let for patienter at betjene og fjernede behovet for transport til hospitalet. Barrierer omfattede mindre social kontakt og mulige udfordringer med at forstå lydinstruktioner under træningen. Implementeringen havde også lokale forhold. Fordi Færøerne står uden for EU, kan hospitalet bruge enheder, der ikke er klassificeret som medicinsk udstyr, såsom b-near, hvilket kan øge patienternes adgang. Fundene bør indgå i Suðuroy Hospitals implementeringsstrategi. At håndtere barriererne er afgørende for at anvende b-near med succes og forbedre behandlingen af CABG-patienter.
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide. Many people with narrowed heart arteries are treated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), a type of heart bypass surgery. Recovery involves cardiac rehabilitation with exercise, education, and follow-up. Attending center-based programs over time can be difficult, which raises the risk of health decline, hospital readmission, and higher healthcare costs. Telerehabilitation—rehabilitation delivered at home using digital tools—offers a potential alternative, but there is limited knowledge about how to introduce such devices into programs for CABG patients. This qualitative case study examined what helps or hinders implementing the b-near touch-screen solution at Suðuroy Hospital in the Faroe Islands. Data came from documents, direct non-participant observations, and semi-structured interviews with 7 participants. The material was analyzed using NVivo, guided by Kvale and Brinkmann’s interview principles and Normalization Process Theory, a framework for how new practices become part of everyday work. The study found both opportunities and barriers. The b-near system supported exercise sessions and communication between patients and healthcare professionals, was easy for patients to use, and eliminated the need to travel to the hospital. Barriers included reduced social interaction and possible difficulty understanding the audio instructions during training. Implementation in this setting had unique features. Because the Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union, the hospital can use devices that are not classified as medical devices, such as b-near, which can improve access for patients. These insights should be integrated into Suðuroy Hospital’s implementation strategy. Addressing the identified barriers is essential for successful use of b-near and for improving care for CABG patients.
[This summary has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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