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Family Practice Advance Access published online on January 10, 2005
Family Practice, doi:10.1093/fampra/cmh716
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Family Practice © Oxford University Press 2005, all rights reserved.
Received June 4, 2004
Accepted June 28, 2004

Article

Remote working: survey of attitudes to eHealth of doctors and nurses in rural general practices in the United Kingdom

Helen Richards 1*, Gerry King 1, Margaret Reid 2, Sivasubramaniam Selvaraj 1, Iain McNicol 3, Eileen Brebner 4, and David Godden 1

1 Highlands and Islands Health Research Institute, Aberdeen University, UK
2 Section of Public Health and Health Policy, Community Based Sciences, Glasgow University, UK
3 Port Appin Medical Practice, Port Appin, Aberdeen University, UK
4 Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Aberdeen University, UK

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Helen Richards, E-mail: h.richards{at}abdn.ac.uk


  Abstract

Background. Health professionals in rural primary care could gain more from eHealth initiatives than their urban counterparts, yet little is known about eHealth in geographically isolated areas of the UK.

Objective. To elicit current use of, and attitudes towards eHealth of professionals in primary care in remote areas of Scotland.

Methods. In 2002, a questionnaire was sent to all general practitioners (n = 154) in Scotland's 82 inducement practices, and to 67 nurses. Outcome measures included reported experience of computer use; access to, and experience of eHealth and quality of that experience; views of the potential usefulness of eHealth and perceived barriers to the uptake of eHealth.

Results. Response rate was 87%. Ninety-five percent of respondents had used either the Internet or email. The proportions of respondents who reported access to ISDN line, scanner, digital camera, and videoconferencing unit were 71%, 48%, 40% and 36%, respectively. Use of eHealth was lower among nurses than GPs. Aspects of experience that were rated positively were ‘clinical usefulness’, ‘functioning of equipment’ and ‘ease of use of equipment’ (76%, 74%, and 74%, respectively). The most important barriers were ‘lack of suitable training’ (55%), ‘high cost of buying telemedicine equipment’ (54%), and ‘increase in GP/nurse workload’ (43%). Professionals were concerned about the impact of tele-consulting on patient privacy and on the consultation itself.

Conclusions. Although primary healthcare professionals recognize the general benefits of eHealth, uptake is low. By acknowledging barriers to the uptake of eHealth in geographically isolated settings, broader policies on its implementation in primary care may be informed.

Keywords: Information technology; telemedicine.
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