Demands for Telenursing-Based Long-Term Care Among Disabled Older Adults in Qingdao, China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Wu, Yu; Liu, Yuxiu; Su, Zhe; Sun, Songwei; Liu, Cuiping; Ding, Wei; Gao, Yufang

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the current status of and factors influencing the demands for telenursing-based long-term care in disabled older adults. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, data from 213 participants from five districts of Qingdao, China, were investigated using multistage stratified sampling. The assessment scale of the long-term care demands level and the questionnaire of the demands of telenursing-based long-term care for disabled older adults were used to estimate the demands for telenursing-based long-term care for older adults with disabilities in Qingdao. RESULTS: Of the participants, 60.51% were willing to receive telenursing-based long-term care. The item with the highest score was “Internet +” information management and first aid (3.77 ± 0.71); the item with the lowest score was “Internet +” daily care (2.97 ± 0.72). Average family income (P < 0.001), age (P = 0.004) and educational level (P = 0.003) were significant factors influencing the demands for telenursing-based long-term care. CONCLUSION: Disabled older adults had a high demand for telenursing-based long-term care. Urgent actions are needed to integrate telenursing with long-term care as soon as possible. In the development of telenursing-based long-term care, it is necessary to fully consider the average family income, age and educational level of disabled older adults.