Exploring Therapeutic Relational Connection in Virtual Healthcare: Insights From Nurse Practitioner Practice With Young Adults Living With Chronic Illness.

Aim: To identify the essential characteristics of therapeutic relational connection (TRC) as viewed by nurse practitioners (NPs) in the practice of their virtual visits caring for young adults living with chronic illness.

Design: This is a qualitative descriptive study of data obtained from open-ended items on an online questionnaire.

Methods: The sample was recruited through an electronic listserv sent by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) to access a national sample. Study data were collected and managed using REDCap electronic data capture tools. Data analysis was conducted through open and axial coding towards grounded theory. The 'towards grounded theory' approach adapts and evolves grounded theory principles to incorporate broader perspectives, enhancing flexibility and contextual sensitivity in the co-construction of knowledge between researcher and participants. TRC was the central phenomenon.

Results: Four themes emerged from the data including Characteristics of TRC, Behavioural Manifestations, Potential Outcomes and Environment.

Conclusion: The transfer of skills from in-person clinic visits to the virtual setting is not synonymous. As virtual visits continue to be implemented as a mode to provide quality healthcare, identification of best practises for establishing an intentional use of TRC during virtual visits may be an essential component in the patient-provider relationship. Educational interventions can be designed to train providers to identify their current practices and ways in which they might adapt their in-person approach to the virtual visit.

Impact: Identifying essential elements of TRC in virtual visits may achieve improved outcomes as an emergent healthcare delivery model for young adults with chronic illness.

Patient Contribution: No patient or public contribution. Patient or public contribution was not indicated in this study as the aim was to identify the characteristics of TRC from NPs.