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In the field of tension between Technology and Person-centredness - A Caring Encounter in digital Space Passed

Wednesday May 15, 2024 15:27 - 15:39 G1

Moderator: Vasiliki Mylonopoulou
Presenter: Theresa Clement

Track: Digitalisation and eHealth

Background: Supporting family caregivers has been identified as a high-priority health goal worldwide. Alles Clara (AC) is a novel social service in Austria that connects family caregivers with professional counselors from the fields of care and psychology via an app, thus offering flexible, low-threshold and yet personal counseling. As part of a larger-scale realist evaluation study we investigated how family caregivers experience the counseling in digital space and how counselors in AC carry out the consultation and experience their work. Method: We conducted eight narrative interviews with family caregivers who use the app and two focus group interviews with counselors in AC (á n=5). Data were analyzed thematically and according to prior hypothesis generated in an initial program theory on how the digital counseling in AC is supposed to work. Findings: Findings suggest that aspects of anonymity, flexibility, and low-thresholdness, that characterize a digital tool like AC, have positive effects on family caregivers and counselors. However, we recognized that the key to successful counseling lies in the establishment of a trusting relationship, putting family caregivers at the center. In the counseling room, family caregivers remain anonymous, while they present their personal concerns, worries, and wishes. Counselors emphasize and see the achievements and abilities of family caregivers. As an elementary component and essential prerequisite of a relationship in the sense of professional nursing, the encounter plays a fundamental role. Both parties encounter each other in a way in which they allow themselves and the other to be the person they are. Conclusion: Person-centeredness and technology are often seen as incompatible because ‘human closeness’ would conflict with distanced technology. Our findings suggest that establishing relationships in a person-centred manner is possible also in digital space. However, the aspect of the caring encounter in the digital context needs to be further examined.  

Language

English

Seminar type

Pre-recorded + On-site

Conference

GCPCC

Authors

Theresa Clement, Katharina Gabl, Hanna Mayer

Lecturers

Profile image for Vasiliki Mylonopoulou

Vasiliki Mylonopoulou Moderator

Senior Lecturer, Ph.D.
University of Gothenburg

Vasiliki Mylonopoulou, PhD, is a Marie Sklodowska-Curie alumna, focusing on communicating requirements and designing technology related to health and wellness. She works with and for people with chronic conditions to support them live independently and remain connected to loved ones and healthcare professionals without compromising their privacy and autonomy. She has worked with healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to support person-centric care services from a technological perspective. Her vision is to create an inclusive digital society where the inequalities of the physical world to access, understand, and receive healthcare, are not present.

She develops courses and teaches at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels around technology design for health and wellness by utilizing a user-centered perspective, and People and Patient Involvement in research and Innovation. Her teaching vision is to create an inclusive digital society where the barriers of the physical world to access, understand, and receive healthcare are not present.

Currently works as
• senior lecturer at the University of Gothenburg (Applied IT)
• visiting scholar at Chalmer’s, University of Oulu (Finland), University of Jönköping.

She is part of
• the scientific council of the Authority for accessible media (MTM - Myndigheten för tillgängliga medier)
• INCLUDE international network https://www.hb.se/en/research/research-portal/centres/include--centre-for-inclusive-studies/
• NORM (Normalitet, Omsorg, Rättigheter och Makt) network https://www.gu.se/forskning/norm

More about Vasiliki https://www.vasilikimylo.com/

Theresa Clement Presenter

Research Assistant
Karl Landsteiner University for Health Sciences

Theresa Clement is research assistant at the Division of Nursing Science with focus on Person-centred Care Research at Karl Lansteiner University of Health Sciences in Krems, Austria. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Vienna, exploring person-centred practice in the field of intensive care nursing.