Abstract
eHealth technologies are being promoted by government as an integral part of the future delivery of health and social care services. Demographic ageing is most pronounced in rural areas and eHealth technologies could support care models designed to help the growing number of rural older people living independently in their own homes. Successful deployment of eHealth technologies will depend on a number of factors, including older adults’ receptiveness to and ability to use new technologies. Using a mixed-methods approach we report findings from a survey of Pain Association Scotland members, home visit observations, qualitative interviews with rural older adults with chronic pain and their health and social care providers. We report that rural older adults with chronic pain are receptive to eHealth technologies but caution that these technologies need to be designed and deployed with the needs of specific patient groups in mind. Patients and professionals do not think that opportunities for in-person interaction should be replaced by technology. We suggest that care needs to be taken to ensure that an appropriate balance between the use of eHealth technologies and in-person care is struck.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 181-193 |
Number of pages | 13 |
Journal | Scottish Geographical Journal |
Volume | 131 |
Issue number | 3-4 |
Early online date | 15 Jan 2015 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2015 |
Bibliographical note
FundingThe TOPS project is supported by an award made by the RCUK Digital Economy programme to the dot.rural Digital Economy Hub, award reference EP/G066051/1.
Keywords
- health geography
- rural geography
- technology
- eHealth
- rural
- older people
- chronic pain
- social interaction