| 1. |
- Gustavsson, Tomas, 1973-
(författare)
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Inter-team Coordination in Large-Scale Agile Software Development Projects
- 2020
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Software development organizations worldwide are adopting values, principles, and frameworks to implement Agile ways of working. The advantages of Agile ways of working are seen in teams that are allowed a high level of autonomy. The Agile methods were initially designed for use in small, single-team projects, and routines for coordination between several teams have not been adopted in the same way as routines for coordination within the team. With several teams coordinating, autonomy must, to some extent, be sacrificed in the individual team. Work needs to be coordinated with other teams, and a project is often part of a portfolio or program. The purpose of this research is to investigate routines for inter-team coordination: how they are performed; if, how and why they are tailored, and the impacts of these added routines in relation to Agile values and principles, in particular team autonomy.This thesis is based on empirical studies at three organizations with disparate business logics. One is a product development department in the automotive industry, one is a business bank, and one is an IT department at a Swedish government agency. Data has been collected from 379 hours of on-site observations, 28 interviews, and 201 answers to a survey questionnaire.Insights from these cases build on coordination theories as well as institutional logics (new institutional theory). One contribution of this thesis is the rich descriptions of tailoring of inter-team coordination routines. Another contribution is the identified perceived impacts of the implemented inter-team coordination routines, especially regarding perceived changes to team autonomy. An important theoretical contribution is the identified and defined institutional logics (Agile toolbox logic, Agile rulebook logic, Flow efficiency logic, and Resource efficiency logic), which can be used for analysis of large-scale Agile software development projects.
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| 2. |
- Hedrén, Andreas, 1967-
(författare)
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With Lives on the Line : How Users Respond to a Highly Mandated Information System Implementation - A Longitudinal Study
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Some people are forced to use a specific technology in their work. Should they resist, people die. This thesis examines the implementation of a Patient Data Management System for the critical care departments at two Swedish hospitals. The degree of mandate to use a technology varies along a spectrum anchored between none and absolute. This thesis focuses on the context of absolute mandated use, an area unexplored by Information System (IS) research.Use of technology is a well-established indicator of the success of IS implementation. Nonetheless, when IS is required, use is not a suitable indicator of success. Instead, affectual responses, such as attitudes regarding use and satisfaction, are appropriate indicators of success. This thesis recognizes the process nature of implementation and develops a longitudinal four-stage research model to predict the attitude of individual end-users during the implementation of an IS. The model’s first part considers the stage where users do not yet have first-hand experiences of using the system. The following parts of the model relate to different stages of the implementation process and the final part addresses the stage of the implementation process where IS use has become routine.To test the research model, this research used data collected through field surveys. Non-parametric covariance based (CB) structural equation modelling (SEM) analyses revealed that the users’ perceptions of IS use changed over time and kept changing for months. The results further indicate that both the set of variables and the degree of their influence on a users’ perceptions vary during the implementation process. Furthermore, the users’ trust in the adequate functioning of the system is a persistent predictor of the users’ attitudes. In contrast to many reported findings in the literature, users’ resistance to change is not an influential factor at any stage of the implementation process. Finally, the influence of communication through the organisational channels only affects the users’ perceptions before they have first-hand experience with the IS. This research contributes to the IS literature by uncovering mechanisms of the increasingly ubiquitous although un-investigated phenomenon of highly mandated use. This research reports on causal drivers of users’ attitude towards highly mandated use and how the influence of these drivers develops throughout an implementation process.
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| 3. |
- Lochan Winton, Ruth Alicia
(författare)
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Talk through IT : Using Common Ground to build Bridges with Weak Ties in the Design of Online Psychosocial Support
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- There is growing interest in applying information and communication technology (ICT) in healthcare. The attention to ICT stems from several factors: costs of healthcare, high prevalence of somatic diseases, longer life expectancy and technological advancements. The quest to meet the growing healthcare needs has led authorities to allocate resources to develop technological solutions. Although this research investment is helpful for the information technology sector, these projects face challenges in working with multidisciplinary teams, recruiting participants and moving research to practice. This dissertation investigates the potential of ICT use in psychosocial support communication designed for people with emotional distress associated with a somatic disease (PEDASDs). The research aims to deliver design principles (DPs) for these ICTs, for three stakeholder groups: nurses, therapists and PEDASDs. The DPs focus on communication between these stakeholder groups and not on the overall ICT design. An interpretative approach was adopted to investigate the stakeholders’ unique ICT requirements. This method allows insights into the stakeholder’s world. Three studies, using semi-structured interviews, at oncology facilities in two healthcare system models (Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden), provide the empirical data. The stakeholders revealed not only their communication support needs but also other issues including the practical distresses of living with a chronic disease, limited support, lack of information, unwillingness to associate with other PEDASDs, professionalism between healthcare providers and disconnected healthcare services. Common ground, bridges and weak ties provide the theoretical framework to explore the findings. Eight DPs emerged from the studies: the healthcare system model, need to educate the stakeholders, ICT customisation, support of stakeholders’ information needs, allow access to external resources, support multidisciplinary team communication, support for self-care and support for significant others. The findings could potentially serve as a guide for ICT projects that develop artefacts for psychosocial support and provide a theoretically grounded understanding of stakeholder communication and relationships. The potential for future work includes investigating the issues of legislation and ethics, studying the needs of significant others, exploring the potential for ICTs in other healthcare system models (particularly the out-of-pocket health system) and examining the impact of social media on psychosocial support.
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| 4. |
- Sjöström, Jonas, 1974-
(författare)
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Designing Information Systems : A pragmatic account
- 2010
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Information technology (IT) plays an increasingly important role for individuals, organizations, markets, and society as a whole. IT systems are artefacts (human made objects) designed for various purposes. Given the multiple-purpose characteristics of computers, such artefacts may, for example, support workflows, perform advanced calculations, support human communication and socialization, enable delivery of services and digital products, facilitate learning, or simply entertain. The diverging application areas for IT present a challenge to designers who, as a consequence, have to address increasingly divergent design situations. There have been numerous arguments suggesting that the IT artefact has been 'taken for granted', and needs to be understood and conceptualized better within information systems (IS) research. This thesis is based on the pragmatist notion that one important value of IT resides in its potential to support human collaboration. Such a belief has implications for the development of (1) knowledge aimed for action, change and improvement; (2) knowledge about actions, activities and practices; and (3) knowledge through action, experimentation and exploration. A view of the IT artefact is outlined, showing it as part of a social and technological context. IT artefact design is explained in relation to the induction of social change. The notion of stakeholder-centric design is advocated, along with practical theory to promote a situated understanding of use qualities and design ideals. A set of meta-theoretical implications for design-oriented IS research is proposed. The research process consisted of five inquiries into different IT-reliant social contexts. In the first four inquiries, social and communicative qualities of IT artefacts were assessed, governed primarily by Dewey's notion of inquiry as a theory of knowledge. The fifth inquiry was a large-scale action research project, including interventions into the social setting, and the design and implementation of a new IT artefact into that setting.
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| 5. |
- Ejnefjäll, Thomas, 1974-
(författare)
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Routinizing Workarounds : The Case of a Mandated PDMS in Critical Care
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Workarounds are an emerging area within information systems (IS) research where contributions are increasing but there seem to be different views on what constitutes a workaround. While some aspects of workarounds have attracted considerable research attention and show a high degree of consensus, other aspects contain scarce or conflicting findings. This thesis aims to investigate what constitutes a workaround and how routine dynamics can contribute to our understanding of workarounds in mandatory contexts.I first performed a concept-centric literature review based on literature that has influenced or been published in the former Association for Information Systems (AIS) Senior Scholars’ basket of eight journals and official AIS conferences. I also developed a conceptualization of workarounds from described workaround behaviour in the previous research.With that backdrop, I studied workarounds during the implementation of a Patient Data Management System (PDMS) in two critical care units at a Swedish hospital. A PDMS is a health information system designed to automatically retrieve data from bedside equipment at critical care units and present these in a structured format to improve documentation, manipulation, and interpretation. Usage of the PDMS was truly mandatory where the staff were required to use the system to keep and perform their jobs. Using observations and interviews, I collected data which were analysed using reflexive thematic coding.My research contributes to IS literature in several ways. I develop a conceptualization and definition for workarounds inductively derived from empirical accounts of workaround behaviour that make it possible to distinguish workarounds from other similar phenomena. Then I show how routine dynamics helps us to better understand the internal dynamics of workarounds and the role of artefacts, power, and resistance, and provides us with tools to, for instance, remove redundant workarounds. I also provide thick empirical descriptions that make it possible for researchers to engage with, and question, my assumptions and the applied theoretical framework.
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| 6. |
- Larsson, Anders Olof, 1979-
(författare)
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Doing Things in Relation to Machines : Studies on Online Interactivity
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The Internet is often discussed in conjunction with various notions of interactivity. Recently, conceptualizations of a “Web 2.0″, mainly focusing on harnessing user-generated content, have grown increasingly common in both public discourse and among researchers interested in the continued growth and transformation of the Internet.This thesis approaches the use and non-use of online interactive features by societal institutions. Specifically, the thesis focuses on online newspapers and online political actors, studying the practitioners working within those institutions and on their respective audiences. Consisting of four empirical studies, the thesis is informed theoretically by the application of conceptual tools pertaining to structuration theory. In Anthony Giddens’ original conception, structuration theory posits that social structure is recursively shaped (and possibly altered) as human agents choose to re-enact certain modalities of specific structures. By changing their uses of the rules and resources made available to them by structure, humans are given agency in relation to overarching, macro-level structures. Giddens’ writings have also been contextualized to the study of information technology use by Wanda Orlikowski, who has mostly focused on organizational research.Combining insights from Giddens and Orlikowski, the thesis suggests that most Internet users are enacting a “structure of audiencehood”, entailing somewhat traditional consumer behavior, rather than a “structure of prosumerism”, which would entail extensive uses of the interactive features made available online. Similar traditional use patterns are discerned for practitioners. The thesis suggests that we should not be surprised at relatively low levels of use of interactive features by practitioners and audiences in these contexts. While the chosen areas of study are often surrounded by expectations and “hype” regarding the consequences of online interactivity, institutionalized news and politics can be said to represent stable structures – structures that have functioned in similar ways for extended periods of time, and, thus, are not so easily amended.
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| 7. |
- Stensson, Patrik
(författare)
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The Quest for Edge Awareness, Lessons not yet learned : PhD Thesis on practical and situated usefulness of advanced technological systems among inescapable uncertainties and competing interests in a world of dynamic changes
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis problematizes the concept of usefulness, in part by taking questions to the extreme. The starting point is the contemporary view of usefulness, a view that remains within a traditional paradigm of technical rationality in which important aspects are disregarded or not perceived because they are not part of the equation. For scrutiny of technological usefulness that is a socially situated phenomenon regarding physical systems, neither interpretivist nor positivist research approaches are sufficient. Both views are required. Critical Realism supports such duality, facilitating the combination of elements from different paradigms, and provides methodological guidelines for doing this. The critical realist approach makes it possible to transcend the boundaries of technical rationality and contribute an alternative definition of usefulness that takes into account also the situated, the contextual, and the unpredictable. The aim is that this definition will contribute to a transformation of society.Concepts related to usefulness, such as predictability, controllability, effectiveness, and safety, are revisited, redefined, or complemented. Underlying aspects and mechanisms are explored and tensions identified, resulting in a theoretical contribution with models and frameworks explaining what is argued to be the true nature of usefulness. Potentiality is suggested as a complementary concept to effectiveness, similar to how resilience complements safety. Situated usefulness is then defined using these four concepts. The phenomenon known as situation awareness is scrutinized as well, and complemented by system awareness and the thesis title concept, edge awareness.Four cases, two airline crashes and two nuclear power plant events, and three future scenarios, constitute the empirical contribution. The analysis shows that the contributed frameworks and redefinition of usefulness facilitate different or extended explanations of all four events, and that future cases lack considerations of situated usefulness. Research implications center on the human role and our responsibilities in relation to the technology that we use, and on the meaning of concepts defining this role. We are situated human beings. Our role is to be involved and responsible, a role requiring awareness and controllability. The escalating ubiquity and the character of computerized technological systems make therefore the quest for edge awareness more important than ever.
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| 8. |
- Alenljung, Beatrice
(författare)
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Envisioning a Future Decision Support System for Requirements Engineering : A Holistic and Human-centred Perspective
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Complex decision-making is a prominent aspect of requirements engineering (RE) and the need for improved decision support for RE decision-makers has been identified by a number of authors in the research literature. The fundamental viewpoint that permeates this thesis is that RE decision-making can be substantially improved by RE decision support systems (REDSS) based on the actual needs of RE decision-makers as well as the actual generic human decision-making activities that take place in the RE decision processes. Thus, a first step toward better decision support in requirements engineering is to understand complex decision situations of decision-makers. In order to gain a holistic view of the decision situation from a decision-maker’s perspective, a decision situation framework has been created. The framework evolved through an analysis of decision support systems literature and decision-making theories. The decision situation of RE decision-makers has been studied at a systems engineering company and is depicted in this thesis. These situations are described in terms of, for example, RE decision matters, RE decision-making activities, and RE decision processes. Factors that affect RE decision-makers are also identified. Each factor consists of problems and difficulties. Based on the empirical findings, a number of desirable characteristics of a visionary REDSS are suggested. Examples of characteristics are to reduce the cognitive load, to support creativity and idea generation, and to support decision communication. One or more guiding principles are proposed for each characteristic and available techniques are described. The purpose of the principles and techniques is to direct further efforts concerning how to find a solution that can fulfil the characteristic. Our contributions are intended to serve as a road map that can direct the efforts of researchers addressing RE decision-making and RE decision support problems. Our intention is to widen the scope and provide new lines of thought about how decision-making in RE can be supported and improved.
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| 9. |
- Ghazawneh, Ahmad
(författare)
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Towards a Boundary Resources Theory of Software Platforms
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The last few years have witnessed a significant increase in the frequency and magnitude of involving third-party application developers in software platforms. While this involvement offers great opportunities in building and sustaining platform innovation, it also exposes platform owners to significant challenges. Typically, platform owners facilitate the involvement of third-party developers by providing resources, referred to in this thesis as boundary resources, that give access to the platform, shift design capability, and facilitate the use of the platform’s core technologies. At the same time, these resources have the potential to be used to maintain platform control. This involves seemingly conflicting goals that creates a challenge for platform owners in finding the right balance.The main objective of this thesis is to investigate and understand the role of boundary resources in platform owners’ efforts to stimulate third-party development. To this end, this thesis proposes a theoretical model of boundary resources. This model centres on various drivers behind boundary resources design and use, and how these drivers interact in third-party development. The thesis also presents a comprehensive view of governance and strategizing practices used by platform owners through boundary resources. This thesis comprises a cover and a collection of five published research papers. The thesis applies a qualitative research method and employs multiple case studies. Boundary resources, innovation networks and platform governance perspectives have been synthesized to build a theoretical basis to analyze the empirical findings.This thesis complements and extends the literature on software platforms, and the insights derived from the thesis enhance previous research on third-party development. In addition, it provides a focused theoretical account of the interfaces between platform owners and third-party developers that contributes to the body of knowledge developed around using tools for innovation.
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| 10. |
- Premanandan, Shweta, et al.
(författare)
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Design Suggestions for a Persuasive E-coaching Application : A Study on Informal Caregivers' Needs
- 2023
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Ingår i: Digital Health. - : Sage Publications. - 2055-2076. ; 9, s. 1-12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Informal caregivers such as relatives or close friends of patients are essential for caregiving at home. However, caregiving is a complex experience that may affect the caregivers’ well-being. Therefore, there is a need to provide support for caregivers, which we address in this article by proposing design suggestions for an e-coaching application. This study identifies the unmet needs of caregivers in Sweden and provides design suggestions for an e-coaching application using the persuasive system design (PSD) model. The PSD model offers a systematic approach to designing IT interventions.Methods: A qualitative research design was used, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 informal caregivers from different municipalities in Sweden. A thematic analysis was performed to analyze the data. The PSD model was used to map the needs emerging from this analysis to propose design suggestions for an e-coaching application for caregivers.Results: Six needs were identified, and based on them, we proposed design suggestions for an e-coaching application using the PSD model. These unmet needs are monitoring and guidance, assistance to avail formal care services, access to practical information without being overwhelmed, feeling of community, access to informal support, and grief acceptance. The last two needs could not be mapped using the existing PSD model, resulting in an extended PSD model.Conclusion: This study revealed the important needs of informal caregivers based on which design suggestions for an e-coaching application were presented. We also proposed an adapted PSD model. This adapted PSD model can be further used for designing digital interventions in caregiving.
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| 11. |
- Premanandan, Shweta, et al.
(författare)
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Designing a Mobile e-Coaching App for Immigrant Informal Caregivers : Qualitative Study Using the Persuasive System Design Model
- 2023
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Ingår i: JMIR mhealth and uhealth. - : JMIR Publications. - 2291-5222. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Informal caregivers are vital in caring for their family and friends at home who may have illnesses or disabilities. In particular, the demands for caregiving can be even more challenging for those with limited resources, support systems, and language barriers, such as immigrant informal caregivers. They face complex challenges in providing care for their relatives. These challenges can be related to sociocultural diversity, language barriers, and health care system navigation. Acknowledging the global context of the increasing number of immigrants is essential in designing inclusive mobile health apps.Objective: This study aims to investigate the needs of immigrant informal caregivers in Sweden and discuss the application of the Persuasive System Design Model (PSDM) to develop an e-coaching prototype. By addressing the unique challenges faced by immigrant informal caregivers, this study will contribute to the development of more effective and inclusive mobile health apps.Methods: The participants were considered immigrants and included in the study if they and their parents were born outside of Sweden. Through various channels, such as the National Association of Relatives, rehabilitation departments at municipalities, and immigrant groups, we recruited 13 immigrant informal caregivers. These immigrant informal caregivers were primarily women aged 18 to 40 years. Most participants belonged to the Middle Eastern region whereas some were from North Africa. However, all of them spoke Arabic. We used semistructured interviews to gather data from the participants in Arabic, which were translated into English. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and discussed in relation to the extended PSDM. The needs of the caregivers were compared with the description of persuasive design principles, and a design principle was chosen based on the match. The PSDM was extended if the need description did not match any principles. Several brainstorming and prototyping sessions were conducted to design the mobile e-coaching app.Results: Immigrant informal caregivers have various needs in their caregiving role. They reported a need for training on the illness and future caregiving needs, assistance with understanding the Swedish language and culture, and help with accessing internet-based information and services. They also required recognition and appreciation for their efforts, additional informal support, and easy access to health care services, which can be important for their mental health. The PSDM was adapted to the informal caregiving context by adding “facilitating conditions” and “verbal encouragement” as additional persuasive design principles. This study also presents the subsequent mobile e-coaching app for immigrant informal caregivers in Sweden.Conclusions: This study revealed important immigrant informal caregivers’ needs based on which design suggestions for a mobile e-coaching app were presented. We also proposed an adapted PSDM, for the informal caregiving context. The adapted PSDM can be further used to design digital interventions for caregiving.
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| 12. |
- Premanandan, Shweta, et al.
(författare)
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Designing a Persuasive E-Coaching Application for Informal Caregivers
- 2023
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Ingår i: Caring is Sharing. - : IOS Press. - 9781643683898 - 9781643683881 ; , s. 922-926
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Being an informal caregiver is not easy, and might cause physical and psychosocial burden, especially in the long run. However, the formal health care system has little support for informal caregivers who experience abandonment and lack information. Mobile health can potentially be an efficient and cost-effective way of supporting informal caregivers. However, research has shown that mHealth systems often have problems with usability, and people do not use the systems for more than a short period. Therefore, this paper explores the design of an mHealth app using Persuasive Design, an established design framework. This paper presents the design of the first version of the e-coaching application using the persuasive design framework and unmet needs of informal caregivers from the literature. This prototype version will be updated based on interview data from informal caregivers in Sweden.
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| 13. |
- Premanandan, Shweta, et al.
(författare)
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Designing and Evaluating IT Applications for Informal Caregivers : Protocol for a Scoping Review
- 2023
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Ingår i: JMIR Research Protocols. - : JMIR Publications. - 1929-0748. ; 12
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: A growing number of informal caregivers in many countries are important for effective functioning of health care in our society. Hence, they must receive the required support and services to continue providing care. IT applications can be used to support informal caregivers in their caregiving activities. However, evidence-informed guidelines for developing such IT applications and their evaluation are scarce. Hence, this scoping review can aid researchers and designers by providing design recommendations for IT apps for caregivers and potentially improve the design of IT applications for caregivers to meet their needs better.Objective: This study aims to describe the proposal for a scoping review of current practices and recommendations in designing and evaluating IT applications for informal caregivers. The scoping review will also discuss the opportunities and challenges in designing these IT applications.Methods: We will use a 5-step scoping review methodology to map relevant literature published as follows: (1) identify the research question, (2) identify relevant studies, (3) select relevant studies for review, (4) chart the data from selected literature, and (5) summarize and report results. A structured search will be conducted in PubMed, Scopus, IEEE digital library, Web of Science, and ACM Digital Library databases. In addition, hand searches of reference lists and keyword searches in Google Scholar will also be conducted. Inclusion criteria will be researched (journal and conference) articles focused on IT applications designed for use by informal caregivers and study type to be qualitative studies. Two reviewers will independently identify articles for review and extract data. Conflicts will be discussed, and a third reviewer will be consulted if a consensus cannot be reached. These data will be analyzed using thematic analysis.Results: The results from this scoping review will be presented in a narrative form, and additional data on study characteristics will be presented in diagrams or tabular format. Uppsala University first initiated this scoping review protocol in December 2021 as part of the European Union–funded project ENTWINE. This work was also supported by the Swedish Research Council and the Swedish Cancer Society. The results will be presented in August 2023 and will be disseminated through a report to the European Union and a peer-reviewed journal publication. In addition, the team plans to share its findings on various public platforms, including social media, blog posts, and relevant conferences and workshops.Conclusions: This is, to our knowledge, the first study to map the literature on the design and evaluation of IT applications for informal caregivers. The scoping review’s results will detail the requirements, design suggestions, and user preferences, as well as the usability criteria and features of IT applications for informal caregivers. A mapping of studies could inform the design and implementation of future IT applications for informal caregivers.
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