Older adults` sense of dignity in digitally led healthcare

Abstract

Background Health ministries in Europe are investing increasingly in innovative digital technologies. Older adults, who have not grown up with digital innovation, are expected to keep up with technological shifts as much as other age groups. This is ethically challenging, as it may threaten a sense of dignity and well-being in older adults. Research objective To clarify the phenomenon of sense of dignity experienced in older adults, concerning how their expectations and needs are met within the context of digitally led healthcare in Norway. Research design A Reflective Lifeworld Research design was chosen, and purposive, in-depth interviews were conducted. Participants and research context The participants were 13 adults 75 years and older from Northern Norway, living at home and not receiving consistent assistance. Ethical considerations Followed the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. This study was approved by the Social Science Data Services in Norway (project number 916119). Interviews were conducted carefully within a safe environment chosen by the participants. Findings Older adults experience that using new digital systems in healthcare makes them become dependent with experiences of helplessness. They feel an increased sense of dependency on other people, and that recognition can assail their experience of personal dignity. Older adults not only expect digitally led healthcare to give them a feeling of safety but also experience feeling insecure concerning privacy and loss of possibilities for dialogue with healthcare providers. They are met by demands from society, which they often struggle to achieve. Conclusion The phenomenon of sense of dignity experienced in older adults, concerning how their expectations and needs are met within digitally led healthcare, indicates a sense of feeling lost in the digital world. Further, innovative healthcare lacks focus on ethical performance. This impacts their perception of dignity, as loss of dignity is noticed especially in its rupture.

Well‐being and dignity in innovative digitally‐led healthcare for aged adults

“…Document 1: An European-based scoping review from 2021 about telehealth and digital developments in society in which aged adults have participated (Raja et al, 2021). Document 2: A Scandinavian-based empirical study from 2022 about aged adults' sense of dignity in digitally-led healthcare (Raja et al, 2022). Document 3: A Scandinavian-based policy analysis from 2023 about national digital strategies and innovative eHealth policies concerning aged adult's dignity (Raja et al, 2023).…”

“…Suitable help to use technology in healthcare may improve aged adult's perception of personal control and security and thereby have positive impacts on dignity (Raja et al, 2023). Safety includes important aspects that are protected under international human rights, such as achieving social, physical, Leonardsen et al, 2023;Raja et al, 2021Raja et al, , 2022Raja et al, , 2023. With respect to these issues, a second finding of the document analysis revealed two related subthemes: dependency in a digital world, and continual learning and the mastery of necessary digital skills.…”

“…However, there is a need for robust information and support for aged adults in the context of digitalization in healthcare in many countries (Nymberg et al, 2019). Otherwise, it may present just another barrier that aged adults will have to overcome with the help of others, thereby negatively influencing their dispositions and intersubjective relationships (Raja et al, 2022).…”

“…The key areas of digital technologies in healthcare systems relate to communication, access to services and emphasis on tailormade solutions to the individual. It can provide patients with more opportunities to fully participate in their own healthcare and in some cases help to increase their functional independence and autonomy, whereby digital technology impacts aged adults' positively (Leonardsen et al, 2023;Raja et al, 2021Raja et al, , 2022Raja et al, , 2023. The analysis of the documents is presented through three subthemes: increased patient participation in healthcare; the positive impact of digital technology on aged adults' lives; and feelings of safety generated through the use of technology in healthcare.…”

“…Supported autonomy and being more involved in their own care may help to improve one's perception of personal control and thereby impact aged adult's dignity. Aged adults have strong expectations that technology in healthcare systems will give them a sense of safety in terms of receiving human support when needed (Raja et al, 2022). In caring for aged people, dignity and safety are interconnected as they influence each other.…”