JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The COVID-19 pandemic and resultant restrictions on social gatherings significantly impacted many peoples’ sense of social connectedness, defined as an individual’s subjective sense of having close relationships with others. Older adults living in long-term care homes (LTCH) experienced extreme restrictions on social gatherings which led to negative impacts to their physical and mental health as well as the health and well-being of their family caregivers. Their experiences highlighted the need to reconceptualize social connectedness. In particular, the pandemic highlighted the need to explore novel ways to attain fulfilling relationships with others in the absence of physical gatherings such as through the use of a hybridized system of virtual and in-person presence.

Objective:

Given the potential benefits of virtual presence technology within LTCH, the proposed research objectives are twofold: (1) to develop a conceptual model of the role of virtual presence technology in support of social connectedness between older adults in LTCH and their family members, and (2) to identify the contextual factors that must be addressed for successful virtual presence technology implementation within LTCH.

Methods:

This study will be guided by a qualitative multi-method research design and conducted in three stages: 1) Interviews and theory development, informed by Charmaz’s social constructionist grounded theory method; 2) qualitative description and document analysis methodologies, informed by content and thematic analysis method, and 3) explicit between-methods triangulation of study findings from stages one and two to inform the development of the final conceptual model. Using a purposeful, maximum variation sampling approach, Stage one will involve recruiting 45 participants comprising a range of older adults, family members (30 participants) and staff (15 participants) within several LTCH settings. In Stage 2, theoretical sampling will be used to recruit key LTCH stakeholders (administrators, IT support).

Results:

Data collection will begin in Fall 2023. The theoretical findings emerging from this study will provide insights and understanding about the factors, barriers, and facilitators to embedding and spreading virtual presence technology in LTCH and benefit older adults in LTCH, family caregivers, and staff and administrators of LTCH.

Conclusions:

This results of this research study will provide a greater understanding of potential approaches that could be used to successfully integrate virtual presence technologies in LTCH. Additionally, benefits to older adults in LTCH, family caregivers, and staff and administrators of LTCH will be identified. These findings will contribute to the development of a conceptual model of the role of virtual presence technology to support social connectedness between older adults in LTCH and their family members. Clinical Trial: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/5C7XR