Patterns of computer usage among medical practitioners in rural and remote Queensland.

Full Abstract

As part of a more detailed needs analysis, patterns of computer usage among medical practitioners in rural and remote Queensland were investigated. Utilising a questionnaire approach, a response rate of 23.82% (n = 131) was obtained. Results suggest that medical practitioners in rural and remote Queensland are relatively sophisticated in their use of computer and information technologies and have embraced computerisation to a substantially higher extent compared with their urban counterparts and previously published estimates. Findings also indicate that a substantial number of rural and remote practitioners are utilising computer and information technologies for clinical purposes such as pathology, patient information sheets, prescribing, education, patient records and patient recalls. Despite barriers such as bandwidth limitations, cost and the sometimes unreliable quality of Internet service providers, a majority of rural and remote respondents rated an Internet site with continuing medical education information and services as being important or very important. Suggestions that "rural doctors are slow to adapt to new technologies" are questioned, with findings indicating that rural and remote medical practitioners in Queensland have adapted to, and utilise, information technology to a far higher extent than has been previously documented.

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Author information

Author/s: White, Col (C); Sheedy, Vicki (V); Lawrence, Nicola (N);

Affiliation: Queensland Rural Medical Support Agency, PO Box 167, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia. col(-atsign-)qrmsa.com.au

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: The Australian journal of rural health (Aust J Rural Health), published in Australia. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Jun; vol 10 (issue 3) : pp 137-46

Dates: Created 2002/06/25; Completed 2002/09/09; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 12081506, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Attitude of Health Personnel
Attitude to Computers
Computer-Assisted Instruction
Computers - economics; supply & distribution; utilization
Education, Medical, Continuing
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans

Male
Medical Staff - economics; education; psychology
Medically Underserved Area
Needs Assessment
Physicians, Family - economics; education; psychology
Queensland
Questionnaires
Rural Health

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