Browsing by Author "Mickelson, Robin S."

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    Medication management strategies used by older adults with heart failure: A systems-based analysis
    (Oxford Academic, 2018-06) Mickelson, Robin S.; Holden, Richard J.; BioHealth Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing
    Background: Older adults with heart failure use strategies to cope with the constraining barriers impeding medication management. Strategies are behavioral adaptations that allow goal achievement despite these constraining conditions. When strategies do not exist, are ineffective or maladaptive, medication performance and health outcomes are at risk. While constraints to medication adherence are described in literature, strategies used by patients to manage medications are less well-described or understood. Aim: Guided by cognitive engineering concepts, the aim of this study was to describe and analyze the strategies used by older adults with heart failure to achieve their medication management goals. Methods: This mixed methods study employed an empirical strategies analysis method to elicit medication management strategies used by older adults with heart failure. Observation and interview data collected from 61 older adults with heart failure and 31 caregivers were analyzed using qualitative content analysis to derive categories, patterns and themes within and across cases. Results: Data derived thematic sub-categories described planned and ad hoc methods of strategic adaptations. Stable strategies proactively adjusted the medication management process, environment, or the patients themselves. Patients applied situational strategies (planned or ad hoc) to irregular or unexpected situations. Medication non-adherence was a strategy employed when life goals conflicted with medication adherence. The health system was a source of constraints without providing commensurate strategies. Conclusions: Patients strived to control their medication system and achieve goals using adaptive strategies. Future patient self-mangement research can benefit from methods and theories used to study professional work, such as strategies analysis.
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    Medication Management: The Macrocognitive Workflow of Older Adults With Heart Failure
    (JMIR Publications Inc., 2016-10-12) Mickelson, Robin S.; Unertl, Kim M.; Holden, Richard J.; Department of BioHealth Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing
    BACKGROUND: Older adults with chronic disease struggle to manage complex medication regimens. Health information technology has the potential to improve medication management, but only if it is based on a thorough understanding of the complexity of medication management workflow as it occurs in natural settings. Prior research reveals that patient work related to medication management is complex, cognitive, and collaborative. Macrocognitive processes are theorized as how people individually and collaboratively think in complex, adaptive, and messy nonlaboratory settings supported by artifacts. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research was to describe and analyze the work of medication management by older adults with heart failure, using a macrocognitive workflow framework. METHODS: We interviewed and observed 61 older patients along with 30 informal caregivers about self-care practices including medication management. Descriptive qualitative content analysis methods were used to develop categories, subcategories, and themes about macrocognitive processes used in medication management workflow. RESULTS: We identified 5 high-level macrocognitive processes affecting medication management-sensemaking, planning, coordination, monitoring, and decision making-and 15 subprocesses. Data revealed workflow as occurring in a highly collaborative, fragile system of interacting people, artifacts, time, and space. Process breakdowns were common and patients had little support for macrocognitive workflow from current tools. CONCLUSIONS: Macrocognitive processes affected medication management performance. Describing and analyzing this performance produced recommendations for technology supporting collaboration and sensemaking, decision making and problem detection, and planning and implementation.
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    Medication-related cognitive artifacts used by older adults with heart failure
    (Elsevier, 2015-12-01) Mickelson, Robin S.; Willis, Matt; Holden, Richard J.; Department of BioHealth Informatics, IU School of Informatics and Computing
    OBJECTIVE: To use a human factors perspective to examine how older adult patients with heart failure use cognitive artifacts for medication management. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of data collected from 30 patients and 14 informal caregivers enrolled in a larger study of heart failure self-care. Data included photographs, observation notes, interviews, video recordings, medical record data, and surveys. These data were analyzed using an iterative content analysis. RESULTS: Findings revealed that medication management was complex, inseparable from other patient activities, distributed across people, time, and place, and complicated by knowledge gaps. We identified fifteen types of cognitive artifacts including medical devices, pillboxes, medication lists, and electronic personal health records used for: 1) measurement/evaluation; 2) tracking/communication; 3) organization/administration; and 4) information/sensemaking. These artifacts were characterized by fit and misfit with the patient's sociotechnical system and demonstrated both advantages and disadvantages. We found that patients often modified or "finished the design" of existing artifacts and relied on "assemblages" of artifacts, routines, and actors to accomplish their self-care goals. CONCLUSIONS: Cognitive artifacts are useful but sometimes are poorly designed or are not used optimally. If appropriately designed for usability and acceptance, paper-based and computer-based information technologies can improve medication management for individuals living with chronic illness. These technologies can be designed for use by patients, caregivers, and clinicians; should support collaboration and communication between these individuals; can be coupled with home-based and wearable sensor technology; and must fit their users' needs, limitations, abilities, tasks, routines, and contexts of use.
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    Mind the gulfs: An analysis of medication-related cognitive artifacts used by older adults with heart failure
    (Sage, 2015) Mickelson, Robin S.; Holden, Richard J.; Department of Biohealth Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing
    Medication management is a patient health-related activity characterized by poor performance in older adults with chronic disease. Interventions focus on educating and motivating the patient with limited long-term effects. Cognitive artifacts facilitate cognitive tasks by making them easier, faster, and more effective and can potentially improve medication management performance. This study examined how older adult patients with heart failure use cognitive artifacts and how representational structure and physical properties facilitated or impeded medication-related tasks and processes. Interview, observation, medical record, and photographic data of and about older patients with heart failure (N = 30) and their informal caregivers (N=14) were content analyzed for cross-cutting themes about patient goals, representations, and actions. Results illustrated patient artifacts designed from a clinical rather than patient perspective, disparate internal and external representations threatening safety, and incomplete information exchange between patients and clinicians. Implications for design were the need for bridging artifacts, automatic information transfer, and cognitive artifacts designed from the perspective of the patient.