https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2020.8821
Exploring rural palliative care patients’ experiences of accessing psychosocial support through telehealth: A longitudinal approach
Submitted: 15 January 2020
Accepted: 11 May 2020
Published: 1 September 2020
Accepted: 11 May 2020
Abstract Views: 1554
PDF: 667
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
In this research, we explore the experiences of rural palliative care patients receiving psychosocial support through telehealth. A longitudinal approach considered how experiences vary over time. Three patients with a terminal cancer diagnosis were given a laptop to access psychosocial support via telehealth over three months. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at monthly intervals. Interpretative phenomenological analysis identified four themes: Deepening understanding through unburdened and continuous connections; the ever-present paradox of visible and invisible telehealth; insight into the holistic self: from barrier to facilitator; and, the immediate change from unnecessary distraction to mindful engagement. Findings challenge previous conclusions regarding the inability of telehealth to support meaningful relationships, and instead provide novel insights to explain why enabling rural palliative care patients to access support from home is supportive for their wellbeing and the quality of healthcare relationships. Our conclusions question whether the indirect benefits of telehealth could also offer a valuable way of accessing health services beyond a palliative care setting.
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How to Cite
Rahman, Rachel J., Joseph R. Keenan, and Joanne Hudson. 2020. “Exploring Rural Palliative Care patients’ Experiences of Accessing Psychosocial Support through Telehealth: A Longitudinal Approach”. Qualitative Research in Medicine and Healthcare 4 (1). https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2020.8821.
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