Health and social care frontline leaders' perceptions of competence management in telemedicine in Finland: An interview study

Aim This work aims to describe competence management in telemedicine from the perspective of health and social care frontline leaders. Background The increasing use of services in health and social care is a challenging aspect of modern telemedicine; it requires staff to develop relevant professional competence and good telemedicine practices. Methods The study was conducted using thematic interviews of frontline leaders from primary health care, specialized medical care and social care (n = 10) in the spring of 2021. The data were analysed by inductive content analysis. Results The following main categories were identified: Activities of frontline leaders while managing competence in telemedicine, promotion of community learning, competence management in determining telemedicine content, and recognizing health and social care professionals' competence in telemedicine. Conclusions Achieving the goals set for telemedicine requires ensuring that knowledge from leaders is widely disseminated and shared and that staff are adequately trained. The results can be utilized in the practical work of other telemedicine and in the development of their operations. Implications for Nursing Management Managing competence in telemedicine requires from the leaders an encouraging attitude and improved personal interactions in the work community.