Programme

Virtual nurse visits in tele-healthcare systems

Format: Oral presentation 20 min | Language: Dutch | Tags: social, design
Speakers: Lydia Meesters | Eindhoven University of Technology

Abstract
Tele-care systems include video contact to create a feeling of proximity and build a trust relationship between a patient and a tele-nurse. Two systems were evaluated, i.e., a tele-care system for diabetes and a medication reminder system. The evaluation results are used to describe functional and non-functional guidelines for tele-care systems with virtual nurse visits.

Older users with diabetes used a tele-care system in their own homes for three months. The results of the user study showed that initial use and lengthy use of a tele-care system depends, among other things, on the social influence, the support and the perceived usefulness. Factors that hinder the tele-nurse visits are, for instance, when the users are not seated properly in front of the camera and a bad audio quality.

A medication reminder system was evaluated in a controlled laboratory experiment. The subjects had to assess a medication reminder given by a tele-nurse, a text message, a graphical representation of the pills or any combination of these conditions. The participants preferred a tele-care system that provides all three sources of information. All conditions were assessed similar on efficiency, effectiveness, satisfaction and trust. However, tele-nurse visits were experienced as having personal contact which is pleasant and gives the opportunity to ask questions.

About Lydia
Lydia Meesters holds a M.Sc. degree in computer science from the University of Nijmegen, the Netherlands, and a Ph.D. degree from Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands. She was involved in several national and international research projects. She’s involved in ongoing research on multimedia user experience metrics, tele-care evaluation methodology and metrics, assistive technology for wellbeing and healthcare and socially assistive robots.