Nurses' experiences of using digital care meetings with patients in regional primary care : A Literature Review

Background: Digital meetings have become a natural part of healthcare, especially in recent years, such as after the global COVID-19 pandemic. In primary care, this development has been an important step toward increasing accessibility to healthcare. For nurses, who play a central role in these meetings, e-health presents new challenges but also offers many opportunities. Nurses must be aware of factors such as maintaining nurturing communication and ensuring person-centered care to prevent patients suffering in healthcare. Aim: The purpose of this study was to highlight nurses’ experiences of using digital care meetings with patients in regional primary care. Method: The method used was a literature review. An analysis of eight scientific qualitative studies and two with mixed methods resulted in two themes and five subthemes. Results: The two themes identified were: A feeling of being between the old and the new and A new way of communicating. The findings indicate that digital healthcare meetings are an excellent complement to physical meetings, offering opportunities to reach more patients. However, challenges arise in establishing the same level of personal connection as in face-toface meetings. Nurses also reported a need for additional training and support to effectively manage technological tools. Conclusion: Digital healthcare meetings can enhance accessibility to care, but technical and educational barriers must be addressed to fully realize their potential. The transition to digital healthcare is not a straightforward path towards progress.