JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

The non-randomized and exploratory intervention and feasibility study examines how a digital assistive technology (DAT),the Dfree ultrasound sensor, impacts nursing care for continence support and the willingness of caregivers to incorporate DAT into planning and the practical implementation of care processes. It unclear whether the Dfree can be a relief in clinical care settings and to what extent caregivers are supported by using the Dfree. This means it isn´t clear to what extent the Dfree reduces the load of care work in continence support. Around 45 nurses from the clinic and polyclinic for neurology, neurosurgery and geriatric medicine at the University Medicine Halle are included in the 90-day (3-month) intervention. The intervention takes place on site at the respective wards. After the wards have been equipped with the digital technologies, participating nurses will be trained for use, they will be able to select the Dfree as a possible resource for patient care, if the anamnesis describes a bladder dysfunction. The trial only takes place if the patient is willing to participate. The willingness of paticipants to use the Dfree in planning their care process is going to be assessed by using the Technology Usage Inventory (TUI) at three measurement points. The primary target values are the results of this multidimensional TUI assessment, which are processed in the sense of descriptive statistics. In addition, ten of the participating nurses are invited to extensive guided interviews, which are intended to provide information about usefulness, feasibility in the special field of continence care and possible improvements regarding the device. It is expected that the intention to use is going to be confirmed by the nurses and the number of nursing problems such as bedwetting induced by the presence of bladder dysfunction will be reduced.