Bladder dysfunction is physically and mentally stressful. Long‐term catheterization is indicated as conservative therapy for chronic urinary retention as well as urinary incontinence; although an indwelling, transurethral catheter still represents a risk factor for ascending urinary tract infection and urosepsis. The primary outcome of this study was the impact of the DFree ultrasonic sensor on the subjectively perceived quality of life and satisfaction of patients. The secondary outcomes evaluated were usefulness, ease of use (user‐friendliness), quality of care, and self‐reported degree of autonomy. In this pilot study, 18 urological patients with various kind of bladder dysfunction were treated with an ultrasonic sensor for at least 12 h a day over a 3‐month period. Assessment was conducted using the Kings Health Questionnaire (KHQ) and the German version of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire (ZUF‐8) (quantitative data) and guided interviews (qualitative data). Eighteen participants were included in this study. Participants highly appreciated the ideas and concepts of the device. A change in KHQ after treatment could not be statistically confirmed; however, the average value in ZUF‐8 showed satisfaction with Dfree. However, no significant improvement was observed in the quantitative data. During the interviews at the end of the testing phase, the participants provided positive feedback with specific suggestions to improve device usability. The application was described as helpful and easy to use. Data triangulation illustrates that an improvement in technical implementation could increase device usefulness. This would imply higher patient satisfaction when using the device for bladder dysfunction.

Zusammenfassung: Hintergrund und Ziel: Die digitale Transformation der Gesundheitsversorgung erfordert auch in den Pflegeberufen veränderte Kompetenzen. Die Reform der Pflegeausbildung eröffnet die Chance, die dafür notwendigen Inhalte in der Berufsausbildung zu verankern. Die „Rahmenpläne der Fachkommission nach § 53 Pflegeberufegesetz“ bilden für die Bundesländer die Grundlage zur Erstellung eigener Rahmenlehr- und Ausbildungspläne. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht, in welchem Umfang und in welcher Form die Rahmenpläne Digitalisierung aufgreifen. Material und Methoden: Die Rahmenpläne wurden zwischen August und Oktober 2021 einer explikativ-qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse unterzogen. Dabei wurde zunächst die Häufigkeit von zuvor definierten Schlagwörtern festgestellt. Im Anschluss erfolgte eine systematische Kontextanalyse. Ergebnisse: Lediglich 6 Bundesländer hatten einen eigenen Rahmenplan erstellt, die anderen verwendeten den Bundesrahmenplan, der nur in geringem Umfang auf den Kompetenzerwerb im Bereich Digitalisierung eingeht. In den eigenen Rahmenplänen der Bundesländer wurde Digitalisierung in unterschiedlichem Maß thematisiert, jedoch insgesamt nur punktuell. Handlungsempfehlungen für praktische Übungsformate wurden kaum gegeben. Diskussion: Der Erwerb von Kompetenzen im Bereich Digitalisierung bildet das Fundament für das spätere Berufsleben und ist ein wichtiger Bestandteil der digitalen Transformation. Im Rahmen der Modifizierungsmöglichkeit der Pflegeausbildung bis zum Jahr 2024 sollte das Thema noch stärker fokussiert werden. Auch direkt an den Fach- und Berufsschulen sowie Hochschulen kann nachgebessert werden, da die Rahmenpläne teilweise lediglich einen empfehlenden Charakter haben.

Background: Digital assistive technologies have the potential to address the pressing need for adequate therapy options for patients with long COVID (also known as post–COVID-19 condition) by enabling the implementation of individual and independent rehabilitation programs. However, the involvement of the target patient group is necessary to develop digital devices that are closely aligned to the needs of this particular patient group. Objective: Participatory design approaches, such as cocreation, may be a solution for achieving usability and user acceptance. However, there are currently no set methods for implementing cocreative development processes incorporating patients. This study addresses the following research questions: what are the tasks and challenges associated with the involvement of patient groups? What lessons can be learned regarding the adequate involvement of patients with long COVID? Methods: First, a literature review based on a 3-stage snowball process was conducted to identify the tasks and challenges emerging in the context of the cocreation of digital assistive devices and services with patient groups. Second, a qualitative analysis was conducted in an attempt to extract relevant findings and criteria from the identified studies. Third, using the method of theory adaptation, this paper presents recommendations for the further development of the existing concepts of cocreation in relation to patients with long COVID. Results: The challenges of an active involvement of patients in cocreative development in health care include hierarchical barriers and differences in the levels of specific knowledge between professionals and patients. In the case of long COVID, patients themselves are still inexperienced in dealing with their symptoms and are hardly organized into established groups. This amplifies general hurdles and leads to questions of group identity, power structure, and knowledge creation, which are not sufficiently addressed by the current methods of cocreation. Conclusions: The adaptation of transdisciplinary methods to cocreative development approaches focusing on collaborative and inclusive communication can address the recurring challenges of actively integrating patients with long COVID into development processes.

Background: Due to a high number of patients affected by long COVID or post-COVID condition, an essential step to address the long-term effects of COVID-19 lies in the development and implementation of flexible and accessible rehabilitation programs. Virtual reality (VR) technologies offer the potential to support traditional therapies with individualized at-home programs. Objective: This study aims to provide an overview of existing scientific evidence on the development and implementation of VR-assisted respiratory rehabilitation programs for patients with long COVID and post-COVID condition and to synthesize the results. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of studies from 6 databases. PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, ScienceDirect, Web of Science Social Sciences Citation Index, and PEDro were searched using an exploratory search strategy. The search, which was last updated in February 2024, included peer-reviewed studies on immersive VR applications providing respiratory rehabilitation programs for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and long COVID or post-COVID condition. Exclusion criteria were studies in clinical or inpatient settings, telemedicine, nonimmersive VR applications, and gray literature. Nine publications were included in this review. Findings were extracted and summarized from the studies according to the JBI (Joanna Briggs Institute) method and thematically categorized. Topics covered were study characteristics, physiotherapeutic concept, clinical parameters, as well as usability and acceptability. Results: The 9 publications included in the qualitative analysis were published in 2019-2023. Eight empirical studies were included: 4 followed a mixed methods design, 3 were qualitative studies, and 1 followed a quantitative method. One scoping review was included in the data analyses. Four of the included studies were on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The 9 studies demonstrated that VR-supported respiratory rehabilitation programs result in positive initial outcomes in terms of physical as well as psychological parameters. Particularly noteworthy was the increased motivation and compliance of patients. However, adverse effects and lack of usability are the barriers to the implementation of this innovative approach. Conclusions: Overall, VR is a promising technology for the implementation of individualized and flexible respiratory rehabilitation programs for patients with long COVID and post-COVID condition. Nevertheless, corresponding approaches are still under development and need to be more closely adapted to the needs of users. Further, the evidence was limited to pilot studies or a small number of patients, and no randomized controlled trials or long-term studies were part of the study selection. The included studies were performed by 4 groups of researchers: 3 from Europe and 1 from the United States.

Background: Current challenges in patient care have increased research on technology use in nursing and health care. Digital assistive technologies (DATs) are one option that can be incorporated into care processes. However, how the application of DATs should be introduced to nurses and care professionals must be clarified. No structured and effective education concepts for the patient-oriented integration of DATs in the nursing sector are currently available. Objective: This study aims to examine how a structured and guided integration and education concept, herein termed the sensitization, evaluative introduction, qualification, and implementation (SEQI) education concept, can support the integration of DATs into nursing practices. Methods: This study used an explanatory, sequential study design with a mixed methods approach. The SEQI intervention was run in 26 long-term care facilities oriented toward older adults in Germany after a 5-day training course in each. The participating care professionals were asked to test 1 of 6 DATs in real-world practice over 3 days. Surveys (n=112) were then administered that recorded the intention to use DATs at 3 measurement points, and guided qualitative interviews with care professionals (n=12) were conducted to evaluate the learning concepts and effects of the intervention. Results: As this was a pilot study, no sample size calculation was carried out, and P values were not reported. The participating care professionals were generally willing to integrate DATs—as an additional resource—into nursing processes even before the 4-stage SEQI intervention was presented. However, the intervention provided additional background knowledge and sensitized care professionals to the digital transformation, enabling them to evaluate how DATs fit in the health care sector, what qualifies these technologies for correct application, and what promotes their use. The care professionals expressed specific ideas and requirements for both technology-related education concepts and nursing DATs. Conclusions: Actively matching technical support, physical limitations, and patients’ needs is crucial when selecting DATs and integrating them into nursing processes. To this end, using a structured process such as SEQI that strengthens care professionals’ ability to integrate DATs can help improve the benefits of such technology in the health care setting. Practical, application-oriented learning can promote the long-term implementation of DATs.

Background: This nonrandomized exploratory intervention and feasibility study examines how digital assistive technology (DAT), comprising a DFree ultrasound sensor, affects nursing care for continence support and evaluates nurses’ willingness to incorporate DAT into the planning and practical implementation of care processes. Objective: The relief provided by DFree in the clinical care setting and the extent to which it supports nursing care for activities of daily living pertaining to “micturition” is unclear. DAT DFree is expected to reduce nurses’ workload in clinical continence-care settings and was designed as a human-technology interaction that ensures a high level of usability for the subjects (ie, the nurses) and increases user acceptance by at least one level (eg, from average to slightly above average) during the study. Methods: Approximately 45 nurses from neurology, neurosurgery, and geriatric medicine clinics and polyclinics at the University Medicine Halle will be included in the 90-day (3-month) intervention on-site in the respective wards. After the wards are equipped with digital technologies, the participating nurses will be trained to use DFree and will be able to select DFree as a possible patient-care resource if the anamnesis includes bladder dysfunction among only patients who are willing to participate. The willingness of nurse participants to use DFree in planning their care process will be assessed using the Technology Usage Inventory at 3 measurement points. The primary target values include the results of the multidimensional Technology Usage Inventory assessment that will be processed using descriptive statistics. Ten participating nurses will be invited to conduct extensive guided interviews that are intended to provide information about the device’s usefulness and feasibility in the specific field of continence care and possible improvements. Results: It is expected that the intention to use will be confirmed by nurses, and the number of nursing problems, such as bladder dysfunction-induced bedwetting, will be reduced with a high rating of DAT usability. Conclusions: First, this study aims to produce multilevel innovative impacts, including practical, scientific, and societal effects. The results will provide practical solutions for workload reduction in the field of nursing support for continence care, where digital assistive technologies are becoming increasingly important. The DFree ultrasonic sensor is a new technical tool for the treatment of bladder dysfunction. Generating feedback to improve technical applications can increase the user-friendliness and usefulness of the device. Trial Registration: Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien DRKS00031483; https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00031483 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/47025