title: How Hawaii/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is using technology to make the Pacific smaller.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In order to improve health literacy in rural areas, the Hawaii/Pacific Basin AHEC and Ke 'Anuenue AHEC are working to connect rural communities via video teleconferencing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Video teleconferencing connectivity has been established to 15 rural and underserved locations across Hawaii and to the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An average of 15 individuals participate in weekly facilitated health education sessions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants have reported lifestyle change as a result of sessions and attendance is significantly increasing. In some areas, mid level health care professionals attend in order to obtain information for their patients.
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii at Manoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine Hawaii/Pacific Basin Area Health Education Center, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Withy
authors.forename: Shaun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berry
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Deedri P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Veehala
mesh_terms: D001113:Area Health Education Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018961:Educational Technology; D006254:Hawaii; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D016730:Program Development; D012423:Rural Health; D049269:Videoconferencing