Keywords: Telemedicine, Qualitative practice study, Activity theory, COPD, Nursing discipline.
Problem field: As telemedicine initiatives are emerging both globally and in Denmark this thesis aims to understand how nursing as professional discipline thrives in this technological context, by studying the practice of nurses working in the TeleCare North COPD initiative in the region of northern Denmark in three different municipalities.
Research objectives: The focus of the study is to provide insight in how the nurses practice is manifested one and a half year after initiative rollout, targeting the framework of their practice from understanding the local set-ups, defining a general practice and identifying how telemedicine influences nursing as discipline in the auspices of the studied initiative.
Research design: As the study is situated in an activity theoretical paradigm, the methods used for data collection and analysis consist of interviews, contextual inquiry, thematic networks and activity systems are the theoretical framework.
Discussion: Studying the local set-ups and defining a general practice for the participating nurses has been difficult as the activities has proven to be bound by the nurses individual approaches, which is not completely outlined in the activity analysis, but is shown in the themes in the thematic networks. However, a general practice understanding is defined.
Conclusion: We have found that the nurses practice does not only concern medical consultation but also important elements of guidance/supervision and psychological support.