Digital support for medication administration : A means for reaching the goal of providing good care?
Journal of Health Organization and Management
ISSN: 1477-7266
Article publication date: 10 June 2014
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe staffs’ perceptions of digital support for medication administration (DSM) and out of the perceptions interpret underlying values.
Design/methodology/approach
In total, 22 persons working in elder care participated in the study. The study had a qualitative approach and focus group interviews were used to collect data. To analyze the manifest content a phenomenographic method was used. An interpretation of perceptions was then undertaken aimed at identifying underlying values.
Findings
Three descriptive categories, “utility,” “impact on working environment” and “economic impact” were the result of the manifest analysis. The values of having a “good working environment,” “benefits” and “good economy” were interpreted as guidance for staffs’ acceptance or rejection of the DSM.
Social implications
The care-giving process and its challenges from the perspective of the staffs need consideration. Staffs in this study sometimes expressed strong emotions as a sign of frustration for losing prerequisites to perform their work well. In big complex organizations where economy and effectiveness are often discussed, knowledge of power relations in innovation and implementation processes would be beneficial. Although moral distress is a well-known phenomenon, future research may be needed to find solutions that diminish this negative trend in more economic focussed organizations.
Originality/value
This study had a twofold approach with the intention of going beyond descriptions. To gain a deeper understanding a normative interpretation was completed. Ethical conflicts are frequently characterized as conflicts between at least two values. In this study staffs expressed fear of losing prerequisites needed to perform their work well. Prerequisites that were identified as values and these values were threatened by the DSM.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank all participants of this study. Conflicts of interest: None to declare.
Citation
Andersson Marchesoni, M., Axelsson, K. and Lindberg, I. (2014), "Digital support for medication administration : A means for reaching the goal of providing good care?", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 28 No. 3, pp. 327-343. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-11-2012-0222
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited