Abstract
The paper presents the ethnographic research of social adoption of digital technologies in care for adult citizens in the Netherlands. While these tools are generally accepted, they often encounter skepticism and indifference from carers. We have identified three distinct cultures that shape care provision, namely Technological, Organisational, and Care cultures, each consisting of several logics. Our findings indicate that discrepancies between cultural norms and practices of different actors in care organisations, such as carers, ICT specialists, and management teams, lead to contradictory actions, creating multiple conflicts, and challenging adoption of the new digital technologies both in institutional and home care environments. Understanding these dynamics is essential for developing solutions that enhance the effectiveness of digital healthcare interventions, ultimately improving quality of care and better experiences of the care receivers. Our study contributes to the ongoing discussion about socio-cultural aspects of technological transformations within the (health)care sector, offering insights about power dynamics behind innovations, organisational constraints, and unexpected relations emerging in the process of implementation, adoption, and use of digital technologies in care.
Presenters
Arturs Vlass NikulkinsPostdoctoral Researcher, Faculty of Humanities, Open University in The Netherlands, Netherlands
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Social and Cultural Perspectives on Aging
KEYWORDS
Digitalisation of Care; Care Cultures; Social Adoption of Technologies; Ethnography
