title: Online technology in rural health: supporting students to overcome the tyranny of distance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine allied health students' perceptions of the usefulness of online chat as a support mechanism while on fieldwork.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fieldwork predominantly in rural allied health settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-seven students studying occupational therapy and speech pathology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students indicated that the major advantage of using online chat while on fieldwork placement was getting peer support (59%), gaining advice (22%) and having contact with the lecturer (15%). The majority of students indicated that they would like to have an online chat room for their next fieldwork placement (72%) and to use online chat when they were practising clinicians (57%). Although 95% of the students attempted to access online chat during their fieldwork placement, only 67% were actually able to participate. Students had difficulty accessing online chat through hospital and community health settings, so instead had to access it via local schools, homes, universities and libraries to use the technology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of online chat rooms was seen to be beneficial to encouraging peer support while on fieldwork for allied health students.
authors.affiliation: School of Teacher Education, Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst, New South Wales 2795, Australia. smcleod@csu.edu.au
authors.forename: Sharynne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McLeod
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbara
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000639:trends; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000193:education*; D009862:Online Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010379:Peer Group; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012938:Social Perception; D012944:Social Support; D013066:Speech-Language Pathology / Q000193:education*; D013336:Students, Health Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*