Nurses share their thoughts on technology and end-of-life care
Last updated on 29 November 2024
Aged care nurses are incredibly open to using technology more in their roles, however, new research shows they need more training and ongoing support to take up the full scope of care and coordination opportunities.
Key points
- ‘Technology in end-of-life care is very important’: the view of nurses regarding technology and end-of-life care was authored by Senior Research Fellow Dr Priyanka Vandersman and Professor Jennifer Tieman at the Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying (RePaDD), Flinders University
- They explored the perspectives and expectations of nurses working in residential aged care settings with 64 nurses taking part in the study
- Nurses see the potential of technology in supporting palliative care and want user-friendly solutions
- Care providers must engage in data discussions and secure informed consent from recipients, ensuring they understand how their data is stored, accessed, and used
The report highlights Australia’s aged care sector is ‘facing significant scrutiny to improve care outcomes and communication’.
It also states that increased innovation and technology use can streamline clinical data management and administrative systems to better report and respond to the complex needs of older people.
There is perhaps no greater opportunity for this positive impact than during the palliative and end-of-life care stages for aged care residents.
However, the report recognises there is little evidence of nurses’ perspectives on using and implementing new technologies in the aged care setting for this exact purpose.
After engaging with nurses, care workers and admin support staff from 14 different residential aged care facilities, Dr Vandersman said nurses require more digital skills.
“In Australia and around the world, we have seen a significant increase in digital technologies in the health care sector,” Dr Vandersman said in an article for Medical Xpress.
“In aged care, these digital approaches can include helping with care planning and assisting with managing medication, but we need to ensure that nurses are equipped with the digital skills needed to use these tools effectively, while continuing to provide high-quality, person-centred care.”
What the results say
After collecting data from 64 participants in two states and one territory, four themes were generated:
- Engagement with various digital systems and platforms
- Ambivalence toward technology
- Challenges and concerns in technology use
- Anticipated technology roles in end-of-life care
Interoperability has long been a challenge for aged care with many organisations using various electronic systems, platforms and software for a range of purposes. There is also a lingering reliance on paper-based processes as the digital transformation journey continues.
One participant said they use four different systems for client care, medication management, incident reporting, payslips and timesheets. Others said limited technology integration resulted in challenging end-of-life care data capture.
“We have an ‘end-of-life’ section [in the clinical data management system] that we fill out when the residents are admitted into the facility … it’s all about their likes and dislikes, their burial or cremation plan, what type of medication they would prefer etc. Then, there is a form that we use that the doctor signs to say, “offer this”, “don’t offer that”, “do this”. So, it is quite a substantial [data keeping] system to use for palliative care,” shared one registered nurse.
While there can be challenging elements, many nurses said technology is a timesaving tool for clinical and care data management. Where implemented appropriately it helped facilitate easy data access, safer care delivery and appropriate clinical decision making.
“I definitely think technology in end-of-life care is very important. Technology makes it easier because you have everything readily available at your fingertips. It [technology] makes it safer and easier to access the information you need to be able to provide the care in the way that the resident wants,” added another registered nurse.
Professor Tieman said by sharing their expertise and knowledge about aged care needs and processes, nurses will ensure systems being designed are fit for purpose.
“With the digital reform agenda and the implementation of the new aged care standards, technology has a very important role to play, offering structured and accessible care solutions,” she said.
“However, its success depends on thoughtful implementation that supports, rather than replaces, the human connection central to compassionate caregiving.”
Challenges and opportunities
Success also depends on the ability to overcome recurring challenges reported by nurses across Australia. Many reported that the systems they use are fragmented, increasing administrative burdens.
However, others also said basic infrastructural issues such as a lack of uninterrupted electrical supply and the availability of reliable phone and internet access made it difficult to use their systems.
This was especially problematic for regional and rural service providers.
“We go paper-based if we have a power outage to write any progress notes and then they get uploaded into the system as well. So that’s definitely a challenge,” said one participant.
Training and experience are another issue with older nurses still finding it harder to adapt to modern systems without ongoing support.
“One of the best things you could do for our situation is training in technology for the nurses to be able to access and to use all that programming [digital technology],” shared a care support worker.
Nurses also see several opportunities for technology to enhance end-of-life caring in residential aged care. One participant suggested a device that evaluates cortisol levels to assess pain for non-verbal residents, another recommended a 24-hour monitoring system that alerts carers to the ‘smallest [sign] of a symptom’ while others said that technology could improve medication administration and documentation.
“With more than a third of Australian deaths occurring in residential aged care facilities, it is critical we understand how technology can assist in end-of-life care,” Dr Vandersman added.
“Nurses, those on the ground, working directly with residents and their families should be actively involved in shaping the future of digital innovations in aged care.
“By developing intuitive digital solutions and providing nurses with the right support and education, we can ensure technology complements compassionate caregiving, enhancing residents’ choice, dignity and quality of life in their final stages.”