A Comparison of Video-Based Resident-Family Communication in a Nursing Home and a Congregate Living Facility

Objective

To explore user perceptions of videophone communication in different long-term care settings by comparing interview transcripts of a study involving residents of a congregate living facility (CLF) and family members with findings of a case study involving a resident of a skilled nursing facility (SNF) and family member.

Methods

Semistructured interviews by telephone and in person were conducted with residents and family members, with both studies using an interview guide with similar questions.

Results

All themes found in the SNF study were also identified in the CLF data. There was consistency between studies in preferences for videophones (over telephones) for affective-oriented conversations and perceptions of acceptable usability. Both yielded generally acceptable technical quality, although 2 of 8 CLU participants' concerns were likely barriers to adoption.

Conclusion

Consistency in findings lends validity to the earlier SNF findings and suggests some degree of reliability across these settings. Additional insights were gained in the CLF study, a new context in the resident-family videophone communication literature. The theoretical framework of social presence and communication bandwidth holds promise as applied, but further explication and operationalization are needed.

Keywords: Social support, communication, videophone, technology, long-term care