A day in the life of a Health Care Aide: Frontline perspectives on when, where, and how information and communication technologies could be helpful
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Abstract
Background: The purpose of this focused ethnographic study was to gather a firsthand account of a day on the life of a Health Care Aide (HCA) in rural Alberta to see when, where, and how information and communication technologies (ICTs) could help support their work. Methods: Four HCAs working out of a rural home care office were shadowed and interviewed over two weeks. Findings: The HCAs in this study demonstrated an admirable commitment to providing care to their clients. They would often put their clients’ needs before risks to their own safety. Conclusion: Many of the challenges faced by HCAs in their work could be addressed by ICT solutions such as hand-held devices (smart phones, tablets) and their applications (“apps”). The HCAs studied reported being open to and accepting of ICTs to support them in their work as long as the selected device(s) did not interfere with client relationships.