Discussion
The aim of the study was to describe the DNs’ experiences of using ICT to communicate with people with serious chronic illness living at home. The results show that the use of the messaging program and mobile phones with an Internet connection in the DN’s work seemed to give DNs a more trusting relationship with the person with serious chronic illness living at home. Furthermore, the results indicate that using ICT increased the possibilities of reaching the DN, saved time, assisted direct communication with the ill people and provided increased knowledge of and control over the ill person’s situation. People living with chronic illnesses believed that a trusting relationship with the nurse is an important quality factor in nursing care (26). According to Logstrup (27) trust is developed in¨ a good relationship. To show or ask for trust implies being more open to oneself and to another person, and helping to improve another person’s quality of life. In order to mediate security, the DNs strove to establish a good relationship with the ill person. Establishing mutual trust and confidence is essential in relationships between DNs and their patients. Communicating by using ICT affected the aspect of trust in relationships. A trusting relationship in the interaction between patients and healthcare providers has the same importance when ICT is used as it has in physical meetings (28). In telehome care, nurses are
physically separated from direct patient contact and building a trusting relationship in such setting requires different strategies. Telehome care allow the ill people to contact the nurse whenever they need, which may leads to increased trust in their relationship (29).