Browsing by Author "Lockhart C"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Enabling Rural Telehealth for Older Adults in Underserved Rural Communities: Focus Group Study
    (JMIR Publications, 2022-11-04) Hunter I; Lockhart C; Rao V; Tootell B; Wong S
    Background: Telehealth is often suggested to improve access to health care and has had significant publicity worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, limited studies have examined the telehealth needs of underserved populations such as rural communities. Objective: This study aims to investigate enablers for telehealth use in underserved rural populations to improve access to health care for rural older adults. Methods: In total, 7 focus group discussions and 13 individual interviews were held across 4 diverse underserved rural communities. A total of 98 adults aged ≥55 years participated. The participants were asked whether they had used telehealth, how they saw their community’s health service needs evolving, how telehealth might help provide these services, and how they perceived barriers to and enablers of telehealth for older adults in rural communities. Focus group transcripts were thematically analyzed. Results: The term telehealth was not initially understood by many participants and required an explanation. Those who had used telehealth reported positive experiences (time and cost savings) and were likely to use telehealth again. A total of 2 main themes were identified through an equity lens. The first theme was trust, with 3 subthemes—trust in the telehealth technology, trust in the user (consumer and health provider), and trust in the health system. Having access to reliable and affordable internet connectivity and digital devices was a key enabler for telehealth use. Most rural areas had intermittent and unreliable internet connectivity. Another key enabler is easy access to user support. Trust in the health system focused on waiting times, lack of and/or delayed communication and coordination, and cost. The second theme was choice, with 3 subthemes—health service access, consultation type, and telehealth deployment. Access to health services through telehealth needs to be culturally appropriate and enable access to currently limited or absent services such as mental health and specialist services. Accessing specialist care through telehealth was extremely popular, although some participants preferred to be seen in person. A major enabler for telehealth was telehealth deployment by a fixed community hub or on a mobile bus, with support available, particularly when combined with non–health-related services such as internet banking. Conclusions: Overall, participants were keen on the idea of telehealth. Several barriers and enablers were identified, particularly trust and choice. The term telehealth is not well understood. The unreliable and expensive connectivity options available to rural communities have limited telehealth experience to phone or patient portal use for those with connectivity. Having the opportunity to try telehealth, particularly by using video, would increase the understanding and acceptance of telehealth. This study highlights that local rural communities need to be involved in designing telehealth services within their communities.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Telehealth at Home: Co-Designing a Smart Home Telehealth System
    (IOP Press BV, 2021-04-19) Hunter I; Elers P; Lockhart C; Guesgen H; Whiddett D; Singh A; Maeder AJ; Higa C; van den Berg MEL; Gough C
    Increasing life expectancy and rates of chronic conditions place increasing demands on aged care health and support services. One response preferred by older adults and seen as cost effective is aging in place, whereby older people remain in their own homes and avoid aged residential care. For this to take place, it is crucial that older people maintain effective relationships with support networks and that older adults and these networks have adequate information to support patient centred health and wellness care at home. This study explored how smart home telehealth, a form of telehealth where health care is provided at a distance using smart home digital technology (sensors), could assist older people to age in place and enhance their health and wellbeing. It was a two-phase project, preceded by a workshop with experts:1) 41 interviews with older adults and their informal support networks, seven focus groups with 44 health providers working with older adults, which informed 2) a pilot implementation of a co-designed telehealth system, addressing key barriers identified in Phase 1. The system used low cost, easily accessible, and commercially available sensors, transferring information via email and/or text messaging. It was successfully piloted with five older adults and twelve of their respective support networks for six months, who reported an increased feeling of security and improved interpersonal communication. The findings indicate that smart home telehealth could assist aging in place, and the study provides insights into successful co-design of smart home telehealth services at scale that could be implemented and deployed in contexts wider than aged care.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Using ‘Health’ to Promote Older Adults’ Digital Health Literacy
    (European Society of Medicine, 2024-07-01) Lockhart C; Hunter I
    Aim: This project explored requirements for digital learning to support digital health literacy of older adults within a rural region. Method: A qualitative study with purposeful sampling and thematic analysis of data. Interviews were held with ten digital educators and seven older adults (four with low vision) living and/or working in rural New Zealand. Results: All participants recognised the importance of trust and having the right people to provide support and foster positive engagement with digital technologies. The digital educators recognised a missed opportunity to engage older adults using health as a topic for digital learning. Conclusion: A positive experience with learning to use digital technologies is necessary to facilitate digital health literacy for older adults. Digital educators want access to reputable resources to promote health websites; many don’t know these exist. A wide range of digital literacy learning services exist which need to be better promoted in hard copy and online. The authors recommend building on older adults’ existing relationships, engaging with community groups, providing pop-up sessions, and running events to increase digital technological knowledge and engage with health information online. The key is utilising the right people to support the older adult with opportunities for digital skills uptake