Study: Caregivers strong adopters of health IT
Caregivers believe personal health record tracking can help them keep track of their care recipient’s history, symptoms, medications and test results, according to a survey from health company UnitedHealthcare and the National Alliance for Caregiving. ?
Seventy-seven percent of respondents rated personal health record tracking as very or somewhat helpful.
Conducted in November 2010, the study surveyed 1,000 family caregivers who have already used the internet or some other technology to support their caregiving, according to UnitedHealthcare, based in Minnetonka, Minn. It assessed how helpful 12 particular technologies would be in supporting caregivers or helping them provide care. It also explored perceived barriers to using technology, factors that influence family caregivers’ use of technology and sources of information about technology that caregivers trust.
Seventy percent rated a caregiving coordination system that provides a shared electronic log for doctor appointments and other caregiving needs as very or somewhat helpful. In addition, 70 percent rated a medication support system–a device that reminds the patient about his or her prescription medications and dispenses pills–as very or somewhat helpful.
The most commonly reported obstacle to accepting the 12 technologies was the perception that the technology would be expensive (37 percent).
Caregivers surveyed recognized that technology holds the power to bring significant benefits to both them and their care recipients, concluded the report. This includes helping them to save time (77 percent), manage the logistics of caregiving (76 percent), make their care recipient feel safer (75 percent), increase their feelings of effectiveness as a caregiver (74 percent) and reduce stress (74 percent).
Seventy-seven percent of respondents rated personal health record tracking as very or somewhat helpful.
Conducted in November 2010, the study surveyed 1,000 family caregivers who have already used the internet or some other technology to support their caregiving, according to UnitedHealthcare, based in Minnetonka, Minn. It assessed how helpful 12 particular technologies would be in supporting caregivers or helping them provide care. It also explored perceived barriers to using technology, factors that influence family caregivers’ use of technology and sources of information about technology that caregivers trust.
Seventy percent rated a caregiving coordination system that provides a shared electronic log for doctor appointments and other caregiving needs as very or somewhat helpful. In addition, 70 percent rated a medication support system–a device that reminds the patient about his or her prescription medications and dispenses pills–as very or somewhat helpful.
The most commonly reported obstacle to accepting the 12 technologies was the perception that the technology would be expensive (37 percent).
Caregivers surveyed recognized that technology holds the power to bring significant benefits to both them and their care recipients, concluded the report. This includes helping them to save time (77 percent), manage the logistics of caregiving (76 percent), make their care recipient feel safer (75 percent), increase their feelings of effectiveness as a caregiver (74 percent) and reduce stress (74 percent).