Stakeholder involvement and perceived safety enhance technology adoption in dementia care

Why It Matters

This insight is crucial for designers and developers of assistive technologies, as it highlights that technical functionality alone is insufficient for adoption. Understanding user and caregiver perceptions of safety and ensuring inclusive decision-making processes are paramount for successful integration into complex care environments.

Key Finding

Implementing new monitoring technologies in dementia care homes is more successful when staff and others involved clearly see how it improves safety, when everyone has a say in how it's used, and when training explains the 'why' behind the technology, not just the 'how'.

Key Findings

• Perceived enhancement of safety is a key facilitator for technology implementation.
• Involvement of all stakeholders in discussions and decision-making deepens understanding of benefits and challenges.
• Staff training needs to go beyond functional instruction to cover the rationale and anticipated benefits of the technology.

Research Evidence

Aim: To explore the factors influencing the implementation of monitoring technologies in dementia care settings.

Method: Qualitative exploration using Normalization Process Theory.

Procedure: The study likely involved in-depth interviews or focus groups with various stakeholders (e.g., care home staff, managers, potentially residents or their families) to understand their experiences and perceptions regarding the implementation of monitoring technologies. Normalization Process Theory was used as a framework to analyze the social processes that enable or hinder the integration of these technologies into routine practice.

Context: Care homes for people with dementia.

Design Principle

Technology adoption is driven by perceived utility and inclusive implementation strategies.

How to Apply

When designing or implementing monitoring systems for elderly care, actively involve caregivers, administrators, and, where possible, residents in defining requirements and evaluating prototypes, focusing on how the technology enhances safety and well-being.

Limitations

The findings are based on qualitative data and may not be generalizable to all care home settings or all types of monitoring technologies. The specific context of dementia care may influence perceptions differently than other care environments.

Student Guide (IB Design Technology)

Simple Explanation: When you make technology for places like nursing homes, people will use it more if they think it makes things safer, and if everyone gets to help decide how it works and is trained properly on why it's useful.

Why This Matters: Understanding how people feel about a product and involving them in its creation is key to making sure it's actually used and helpful, especially in sensitive areas like healthcare.

Critical Thinking: How might the perceived 'safety' of a monitoring technology differ between a resident with dementia, their family member, and a care home administrator, and how could a design process account for these varied perspectives?

IA-Ready Paragraph: The implementation of new technologies, particularly in care settings, is significantly influenced by the perceived enhancement of safety and the active involvement of all stakeholders in decision-making processes. As explored by Hall et al. (2017), fostering a shared understanding of the technology's benefits and challenges through inclusive dialogue and comprehensive training that addresses the underlying rationale, rather than just functional operation, is crucial for successful integration.

Project Tips

• When researching a new product, consider who the end-users are and who else is involved in its use (e.g., caregivers, managers).
• Think about how your design will be perceived in terms of safety and how you can involve these different people in your design process.

How to Use in IA

• Reference this study when discussing the importance of user involvement and perceived benefits in your design process, particularly for technologies aimed at improving safety or care.

Examiner Tips

• Demonstrate an understanding that successful product implementation relies on more than just technical features; consider the social and psychological factors influencing adoption.

Independent Variable: ["Stakeholder involvement in decision-making","Perceived enhancement of safety","Quality of staff training"]

Dependent Variable: ["Implementation of monitoring technologies","Normalization of technology in practice"]

Controlled Variables: ["Type of care home","Specific monitoring technology used","Existing care protocols"]

Strengths

• Utilizes a robust theoretical framework (Normalization Process Theory) for in-depth analysis.
• Focuses on the practical realities of technology implementation in a complex environment.

Critical Questions

• To what extent can 'perceived safety' be objectively measured, and how might this perception be influenced by factors beyond the technology itself?
• What are the ethical considerations when implementing monitoring technologies, especially concerning privacy and autonomy, and how do these interact with perceived safety?

Extended Essay Application

• An Extended Essay could investigate the ethical implications of monitoring technologies in care homes, using this study's findings on stakeholder perception and safety as a foundation for exploring user rights and privacy.

Source

Implementing monitoring technologies in care homes for people with dementia: A qualitative exploration using Normalization Process Theory · International Journal of Nursing Studies · 2017 · 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2017.04.008