Registered Nurses’ Experiences of Delivering Digital Care in Primary Care

Sammanfattning

Background: The use of digital healthcare has increased rapidly globally, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. Digital care has become an important part of primary care, aiming to improve accessibility and efficiency. However, how registered nurses experience delivering digital care in this context is still not fully understood. Motive: Previous research has mainly focused on patients or mixed groups of healthcare professionals’ studies. Studies specifically exploring registered nurses’ experiences remain limited. A deeper understanding is needed to support the development of safe, person-centered, and sustainable digital care in primary care. Aim: The aim of this study was to compile and synthesize results from qualitative studies exploring registered nurses’ experiences of delivering digital care in primary care. Methods: A qualitative systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Searches were performed in PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO. A total of 11 studies were included, critically appraised, and analyzed using thematic synthesis. Result: Four themes were identified: accessibility and flexibility of digital care, changes in nurses’ roles and competencies, challenges in communication and relationships, and organizational and technological barriers. Digital care improved access and flexibility but also required new skills and changes in workflow. Registered Nurses experienced challenges in remote assessment and maintaining person-centered care. Organizational support and technical infrastructure were important for successful implementation. Conclusion: Digital care can improve accessibility and support care delivery in primary care but is also creating new challenges for nurses. To ensure safe and person-centered care, there is a need for training, organizational support, and well-functioning digital systems.