Multi-site videoconferencing for home-based education of older people with chronic conditions: the Telehealth Literacy Project

All studies included results on feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness, and some reported issues connected with implementation.

“All studies included results on feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness, and some reported issues connected with implementation [33,36-38,40-44,47].”

Communication can be adapted for the Web environment.

“Communication can be adapted for the Web environment”

Overall, inexperience with videoconferencing or computer use did not appear to be a major problem; the majority of studies reported that over time participants found the technology easy to use and enjoyable.

“Overall, inexperience did not appear to be a major problem as the majority of studies reported that, over time, participants found the technology easy to use [32-35,40-42,46] and found videoconferencing enjoyable [42,44-46].”

Three studies reported that technical difficulties declined during the course of the intervention.

“However, 3 studies reported that technical difficulties declined during the course of the intervention [33,38,46].”

Eight of the 15 studies reported few technical difficulties, whereas 7 reported a number of problems, 2 of which required substantial work hours to overcome.

“Various levels of technical problems were encountered; 8 of the 15 studies reported few difficulties [31,32,34-36,38,44-46], whereas 7 reported a number of problems [33,37,39,42,43,45,47], 2 of which required substantial work hours to overcome [39,47].”

Over time, the vast majority of participants became familiar with the technology and adapted their communication accordingly.

“Over time, the vast majority of participants became familiar with the technology and adapted their communication accordingly [33,36,42,46].”

The most common technical problem reported was audio difficulties, including delays, dropouts, and background noise, followed by problems in downloading software.

“The most common problem reported was audio difficulties, which included delays, dropouts, and background noise [33,37,38,44,45], followed by problems in downloading software [38,42,43].”

Some participants reported feeling more relaxed and open by being at home and valued the convenience.

“some participants reported feeling more relaxed and open by being at home and valued the convenience [33,34,36,42-46].”

Higher levels of cohesiveness were demonstrated in groups with more stable memberships compared with groups whose membership altered.

“Higher levels of cohesiveness were demonstrated in groups with more stable memberships compared with groups whose membership altered because of changes in participants’ availability [33].”

Videoconferencing groups provided emotional and social support.

“and provided emotional and social support [32-35]”

Qualitative studies reported discussion themes that illustrated participants' ability to discuss sensitive and personal issues and to give and receive empathetic support.

“Qualitative studies reported discussion themes that illustrated participants’ ability to discuss sensitive and personal issues and to give and receive empathetic support [33,36,42,44,45].”