Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare > Volume 15, Number 4 > Pp. 187-190

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RESEARCH Original articles

Telehospice: reasons for slow adoption in home hospice care

Pamela Whitten , Bree Holtz, Emily Meyer and Samantha Nazione

Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA

Correspondence: Professor Pamela Whitten, 409 Communication Arts and Science Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA (Fax: +1 517 355 1292; Email: pwhitten{at}msu.edu)

We investigated why hospice nurses were slow to adopt videophones to care for their patients. We used the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model and the organizational readiness for change (ORC) assessment via interviews and focus groups with hospice staff. Twenty-five hospice employees participated. Eighteen (72%) were in clinical positions and seven were in non-clinical positions (28%). Thirty-nine percent of respondents reported no videophone training, despite the fact that every employee had received training. Only four staff members actually used a videophone with patients. The respondents overwhelmingly stated that they had the organizational resources necessary to use the videophone and that it was easy to operate. Despite initial enthusiasm, leaders in the hospice agency did not endorse the videophones for work, nor offer incentives for using the videophones or providing them to patients. It is important to note that videophone technology is not meant to replace face-to-face visits, but to supplement them and to provide an additional tool for the nurses.

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