Telenursing Demands Among Older Adults with Disability in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Introduction:

Telenursing leverages information technology and telecommunications to provide nursing services remotely, which offers distinct advantages to patients, caregivers, and nurses. This study explored the demand for and factors influencing long-term telenursing care among older adults with disabilities in Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

Participants included individuals aged 60 or older with physical disabilities, or their caregivers with at least three months of caregiving experience. Data were collected using a three-part questionnaire distributed through multiple channels, including nursing facilities. Descriptive statistics, single-factor analysis, and multivariate linear regression were conducted using SPSS v25, with significance set at p < 0.05.

Results:

A total of 188 responses were analyzed. Among the telenursing services assessed, online appointments had the highest demand (M = 4.18 ± 0.78), followed by visual calls (M = 4.04 ± 0.83) and telenursing consultations (M = 3.88 ± 0.88). Online reminders for important dates were least in demand (M = 3.41 ± 1.12). Demand varied significantly by gender, marital status, number of chronic illnesses, and self-perceived health. Women and widowed individuals showed the highest demand (M = 91.8 ± 16.9; M = 99.4 ± 13.6, respectively). Similarly, participants with poor self-perceived health or multiple chronic conditions reported greater interest in telenursing (M = 106.9 ± 26.4; M = 98.5 ± 16.5, respectively).

Conclusions:

Strong interest was observed for online appointments, visual calls, and consultations, among older adults with disabilities. Key influencing factors include marital status, chronic illness, health perception, and socioeconomic status. Further research is needed to develop targeted, patient-centered telenursing strategies.