title: Role of telehealth/videoconferencing in managing cancer pain in rural American Indian communities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This project is aimed at determining the feasibility and effect of using videoconferencing to deliver cancer-related pain management education and case consultation to health care providers in rural AI/AN communities.
  
  
  METHODS
  The project provided four educational sessions and nine case conferences to health care providers at tribal clinics in Washington State and Alaska using videoconferencing with pain experts at the University of Washington. A cross-sectional, descriptive study design was used to survey the participating providers. Measures included satisfaction with the telehealth system and self-perceived competence in pain management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two providers from 11 sites attended the educational sessions. Ninety-three providers from 16 sites participated in the case conferences. Case conference participants scored significantly higher on perceived competence in treating pain compared with clinic providers who did not attend. Educational session participants and case conference participants both reported a high level of satisfaction with videoconferencing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telehealth is a feasible and effective way to deliver cancer-related pain management education and increase competence among rural health care providers.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of New Mexico, NM, USA.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Haozous
authors.forename: Ardith Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Doorenbos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Demiris
authors.forename: Linda H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Eaton
authors.forename: Cara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Towle
authors.forename: Anjana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.forename: Dedra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Buchwald
mesh_terms: D000413:Alaska; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology; D059408:Pain Management; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011361:Professional Competence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D049269:Videoconferencing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014861:Washington