Information and Communication Technologies to Support the Provision of Respite Care Services: Scoping Review

Abstract

Background Respite care is one of the most frequently requested support services by family caregivers. Yet, too often, respite care services are inaccessible, due in part to families’ lack of knowledge regarding available services and a lack of service flexibility. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) may help to improve the flexibility of services available and families’ knowledge of such services. However, an understanding of the use of ICTs and research in this area is lacking. Objective The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive overview of the academic literature on ICTs for supporting the provision of respite care services. Methods A scoping review study was conducted. Six library databases were systematically searched for relevant literature. Key data were extracted into a summary chart. Text and quantitative data were coded using descriptive qualitative content analysis techniques, and the results were collated and summarized into a comprehensive narrative. Results A total of 23 papers describing 15 unique ICT programs exploring the potential of ICTs to support respite care services met the inclusion criteria. ICTs supported the provision of respite care by facilitating information-sharing with families and providers, recruiting and training respite care providers, and coordinating services. Key design considerations for developing respite care ICTs were trustworthiness and participatory design methods. Implementation considerations included designing for complementarity with existing services, assessing the appropriate timing for introducing the ICT-based services, and ensuring adequate promotion strategies to raise awareness about the services. Conclusions There is limited but promising research on the potential of ICTs to support the provision of respite care services. Further research should be conducted to advance the results of this review, ultimately aiming to build ICTs that can improve the quality of, and access to, respite care services.

In-Home Respite Care Services Available to Families With Palliative Care Needs in Quebec: Novel Digital Environmental Scan

“…Caregivers or clinicians may not be familiar with internet search strategies or be in a position to dedicate time and energy to the search and identification process for respite care services. Thus, the intensive search and screening process constitutes an important accessibility barrier, needing to be addressed as part of best practice guidelines, and perhaps alleviated with the use of collaboratively developed digital tools (eg, chatbot) or care navigators [ 7 , 19 , 48 , 49 ].…”

“…Caregivers are often challenged by overwhelming amounts of information when seeking health care services on the internet, hence, a coordinated database is an important unmet caregiving need [ 6 , 7 , 19 , 53 ]. Therefore, concise and complete records of respite care services are warranted to (1) improve families’ knowledge of the services available in their community and how to access them, (2) to improve clinicians’ ability to share and refer clients to such services, and (3) to promote the expansion of existing services and development of complementary resources [ 49 ]. Best practice guidelines and digital databases should be updated, further developed, and validated by users and organizations, to reflect health care service search and identification challenges.…”

A qualitative study on the willingness and influencing factors of master of geriatric nursing specialist postgraduates to volunteer for home respite care for disabled elderly families

“…Currently, information about respite care is scattered, incomplete and needs more flexibility. Families need more knowledge of existing services and help to access relevant information and support [ 61 ]. The government should establish an information-sharing platform for respite care to centrally collect and organize relevant information, including service providers, service content, and fee information.…”