Overcoming counter-knowledge through telemedicine communication technologies
Journal of Health Organization and Management
ISSN: 1477-7266
Article publication date: 9 October 2017
Abstract
Purpose
Knowledge acquired from sources of unverified information such as gossip, partial truths or lies, in this paper it is termed as “counter-knowledge.” The purpose of this paper is to explore this topic through an exploration of the links between a Hospital-in-the-Home Units (HHUs) learning process (LP), counter-knowledge, and the utilization of communication technologies. The following two questions are addressed: Does the reduction of counter-knowledge result in the utilization of communication technologies? Does the development of counter-knowledge hinder the LP?
Design/methodology/approach
This paper examines the relevance of communication technologies to the exploration and exploitation of knowledge for 252 patients of a (HHU) within a Spanish regional hospital. The data collected was analyzed using the PLS-Graph.
Findings
To HHU managers, this study offers a set of guidelines to assist in their gaining an understanding of the role of counter-knowledge in organizational LPs and the potential contribution of communication technologies. Our findings support the proposition that the negative effects of counter-knowledge can be mitigated by using communication technologies.
Originality/value
It is argued in this paper that counter-knowledge may play a variety of different roles in the implementation of LPs. Specifically, the assignment of communication technologies to homecare units has given them the means to filter counter-knowledge and prevent users from any possible problems caused by such counter-knowledge.
Keywords
Citation
Cegarra-Sanchez, J., Cegarra-Navarro, J.-G., Wensley, A. and Diaz Manzano, J. (2017), "Overcoming counter-knowledge through telemedicine communication technologies", Journal of Health Organization and Management, Vol. 31 No. 7/8, pp. 730-745. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-06-2017-0148
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited