A thematic analysis of health information technology use among cancer genetic counselors
Affiliations
- PMID: 32643297
- DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1306
Abstract
As precision medicine becomes a mainstay in health care, the use of health information technology (IT) platforms will play an important role in the delivery of services across the cancer care continuum. Currently, there is both limited understanding about perceptions of health IT tools and barriers to their use among cancer genetic counselors. We assessed open-ended responses from a survey conducted among 128 board-certified cancer genetic counselors in the United States. We evaluated the utility of ten health IT tools and perceived barriers to adoption. Responses about characteristics of health IT tools that influence current use (i.e., technology-specific challenges) were deductively analyzed using the diffusion of innovations (DOI) characteristics. Responses about cancer genetic counselors' perceived challenges to adopting health IT tools (i.e., discipline-specific challenges) were inductively coded using a thematic approach. DOI innovation characteristics included mixed perceptions about the relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, trialability, and observability of tools based on the type of tool and perceived end-user. One-third of participants indicated that they were considering adopting or switching health IT tools. Common barriers to adoption included no perceived need for change, lack of organizational infrastructure, cost, and lack of decision-making power. Our findings indicate that addressing barriers to use and adoption of health IT may allow for expansion of these tools among cancer genetic counselors. Integrating health IT is critical for enhancing cancer genetic counselors' capacity to address patient needs and realizing the potential of precision medicine.
Keywords: cancer genetic counseling; genetic counseling; genetic counselors; health information technology; innovation; precision medicine; telemedicine; thematic analysis; workforce.
© 2020 National Society of Genetic Counselors.
Similar articles
- A preliminary investigation of genetic counselors' information needs when receiving a variant of uncertain significance result: a mixed methods study.Genet Med. 2015 Sep;17(9):739-46. doi: 10.1038/gim.2014.185. Epub 2015 Jan 8.PMID: 25569439 Free PMC article.
- Genetic counselors' current use of personal health records-based family histories in genetic clinics and considerations for their future adoption.J Genet Couns. 2013 Jun;22(3):384-92. doi: 10.1007/s10897-012-9557-z. Epub 2012 Dec 16.PMID: 23242928 Free PMC article.
- Genetic counselors' views and experiences with the clinical integration of genome sequencing.J Genet Couns. 2014 Aug;23(4):496-505. doi: 10.1007/s10897-014-9709-4. Epub 2014 Mar 28.PMID: 24671342
- Factors Influencing the Adoption of Health Information Standards in Health Care Organizations: A Systematic Review Based on Best Fit Framework Synthesis.JMIR Med Inform. 2020 May 15;8(5):e17334. doi: 10.2196/17334.PMID: 32347800 Review.
- Health Information Exchange.Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep). 2015 Dec;(220):1-465. doi: 10.23970/AHRQEPCERTA220.PMID: 30307736 Review.
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario