Introducing Computer-Based Telemedicine in Three Rural Missouri Counties

Abstract

This study investigated predictors of utilization of the computer-based telemedicine in three rural Missouri counties. Participating health care agencies were given computers and access to an Internet-based workstation that provided e-mail and World Wide Web (WWW) services. Utilization data for e-mail messages sent and WWW pages accessed were collected through proxy servers. A survey was distributed to those employees who are enrolled in the Rural Telemedicine Evaluation Project (RTEP), which addressed perceptions of the Internet-based RTEP workstation. The results of the survey were analyzed to see how perceptions and demographic variables predicted actual utilization. The findings of the study revealed that for e-mail, behavioral intentions/attitude, age, organizational support, and time were the most significant predictors. For WWW, only the behavioral intentions/attitude subscale predicted utilization. The majority of respondents did not utilize the e-mail technology. Strategies need to be developed through training interventions and organizational policies to address non-utilization.

Towards evaluating health information portals: a Tasmanian E-health case study

“…Residing in a rural area can isolate patients from current health information [21; 23]. These reasons are believed to have had impact on the quality of rural health [21]. Not surprisingly then, many investigations have shown that Australians who live in rural areas have a greater need for healthcare as they have higher rates of several non-communicable diseases, including cardio-vascular disease (see for example, [24; 25]).…”

“…Not surprisingly then, many investigations have shown that Australians who live in rural areas have a greater need for healthcare as they have higher rates of several non-communicable diseases, including cardio-vascular disease (see for example, [24; 25]). Although an important aim of telemedicine technology is to improve healthcare in rural regions [21], the impact of E-health on rural healthcare has had only limited examination [13]. There is a need for both studies and methods that investigate the efficacy of E-health systems used in rural areas.…”