Margaret Currie|Lorna Philip|Anne Roberts
Attitudes towards the use and acceptance of eHealth technologies: a case study of older adults living with chronic pain and implications for rural healthcare
James Hutton Institute|University of Aberdeen|University of Aberdeen
providing health services ageing population challenging rural areas even expensive provide high quality services small populations widely dispersed staff patients often required travel considerable distances access services economic downturn created climate delivery costs constant review potential technology overcome problems decreasing ceasing need patients health professionals travel attenddeliver inperson appointments variety ehealth initiatives example pathways pain online course aimed aid selfhelp amongst living persistent pain launched across uk roll remains early stage mixedmethods study older adults chronic pain examines attitudes towards current use acceptance use technology healthcare survey n 168 40 response rate captured broad experiences use technology health social care semistructured interviews four technology seven without technology participants elicited attitudes towards technology healthcare explored attributes personal social interaction home visits people suffering chronic pain access healthcare variety ways ehealth technology use common amongst older adults lived alone broad acceptance ehealth used future care people chronic pain older adults wanted ehealth delivered alongside existing inperson visits health social care professionals ehealth potential overcome traditional challenges providing rural healthcare however roll needs gradual begin supplementing substituting existing care mindful individuals circumstances capability preferences acceptance technology may relate existing levels personal social contact may greater technological help perceived replacing inperson care