Telehealth Challenges in Nursing: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background: Telehealth, employing technology such as Internet-based video, live chat, or telephone, has become essential for enhancing healthcare accessibility and cost-effectiveness. Despite its benefits, telehealth adoption faces challenges, particularly among nurses. This narrative review investigates the specific challenges nurses encounter with telehealth, focusing on a lack of training and resistance to change.

Methods: The review analyzed literature from Web of Science, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. A narrative review methodology was used, whereby the retrieved studies were thematically synthesized to address the review’s aim.

Results: The search yielded eight primary studies. Findings of the narrative synthesis reveal that inadequate training is a significant barrier, with nurses often lacking the time and resources to engage in telehealth training. Additionally, resistance to change, influenced by workflow interruptions and discomfort with being monitored, further hampers adoption.

Recommendations: Recommendations include addressing nursing understaffing, integrating telehealth education into nursing curricula, and developing tailored training programs. Future research should focus on nurses' unique perspectives and test interventions to address identified challenges. Understanding and addressing these barriers can enhance telehealth integration in nursing, ultimately improving healthcare delivery.