Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Nov 29, 2022
Date Accepted: Mar 12, 2023
Domesticating Social Alarm Systems in Nursing Homes: A Qualitative Study of Differences in the Perspectives of Assistant Nurses
ABSTRACT
Background:
New social alarm solutions are viewed as a promising approach to alleviating the global challenge of an aging population and a shortage of care staff. However, the uptake of social alarm systems in nursing homes has proven both complex and difficult. Current studies have recognized the benefits of involving actors such as assistant nurses in advancing these implementations, but the dynamics by which implementations are created and shaped in their daily practices and relations have received less attention.
Objective:
This study asked how do assistant nurses think and act to facilitate the uptake of the social alarm system in practice. Based on domestication theory, we aimed to understand the differences among assistant nurses during different implementation phases.
Methods:
We observed and interviewed assistant nurses (n = 23) working in one nursing home to investigate whether and how they had different perceptions and practices during the uptake of social alarm systems.
Results:
Four main differences emerged, including (a) system conceptualization; (b) spatial employment of social alarm devices; (c) treatment of unexpected issues; and (d) technology literacy promotion. Our findings elaborate how assistant nurses have distinct goals, focus on different facets, develop diverse coping strategies, but complement each other to facilitate the uptake of social alarm systems in different domestication phases. In theorizing assistant nurses’ ways of overcoming these challenges, we highlight the divide between assistant nurses, and their potentials of compensating each other within a group. We call for more studies about collective practices during technology domestication within organizations.
Conclusions:
Our findings reveal a divide between assistant nurses who work in the same environment when domesticating social alarm systems into care practices. To get a systematic understanding of technology integration in organizations, further studies could focus on the role of collective practices during different domestication phases.
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