Understanding the implementation & integration of remote & tele-health services … an overview of Normalization Process Theory

Policymakers worldwide are increasingly supporting the development of nation-wide tele-healthcare, assisted living and healthy-living technology programs. To support transformation processes within healthcare systems, the computing and Interaction Design community must continually strive to identify, describe, understand and reassess the factors causing users to adopt — and also often reject — technology. We review the Normalization Process Theory, a theoretical model of processes of intervention within the health services. The theory has been iteratively developed over the last decade by health services practitioners and researchers, with direct experience of analysing modalities and impact of changes resulting from complex technological interventions within the health services. The theory is of direct relevance to all designers involved in developing or evaluating the deployment of electronic tele-health-care, assisted living and healthy-living technology.