Attitudes towards the use and acceptance of eHealth technologies: a case study of older adults living with XXXX and implications for rural healthcare.

@entity1 @entity1118 @entity158
BACKGROUND: Providing health services to an ageing population is challenging, and in rural areas even more so. It is expensive to provide high quality services to small populations who are widely dispersed; staff and @entity1 are often required to travel considerable distances to access services, and the economic downturn has created a climate where delivery costs are under constant review. There is potential for technology to overcome some of these problems by decreasing or ceasing the need for @entity1 and health professionals to travel to attend/deliver in- @entity1 appointments. A variety of eHealth initiatives (for example Pathways through @entity158 an online course aimed to aid self-help amongst those living with persistent @entity158 ) have been launched across the UK, but roll out remains at an early stage. METHODS: This mixed-methods study of older adults with @entity1118 examines attitudes towards, current use of and acceptance of the use of technology in healthcare. A survey (n   =   168, 40% response rate) captured broad experiences of the use of technology in health and social care. Semi-structured interviews (four with technology and seven without technology @entity1 ) elicited attitudes towards technology in healthcare and explored attributes of personal and social interaction during home visits. RESULTS: @entity1 suffering from @entity1118 access healthcare in a variety of ways. eHealth technology use was most common amongst older adults who lived alone. There was broad acceptance of eHealth being used in future care of @entity1 with @entity1118 , but older adults wanted eHealth to be delivered alongside existing in- @entity1 visits from health and social care professionals. CONCLUSIONS: eHealth has the potential to overcome some traditional challenges of providing rural healthcare, however roll out needs to be gradual and begin by supplementing, not substituting, existing care and should be mindful of individual's circumstances, capability and preferences. Acceptance of technology may relate to existing levels of personal and social contact, and may be greater where technological help is not perceived to be replacing in- @entity1 care.
