title: Awareness, experiences and perceptions of telehealth in a rural Queensland community.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Telehealth can offer alternative options for receiving healthcare services in rural locations, improving access and reducing costs associated with traveling for services. However, the full potential of telehealth has not been realised with slow and fragmented uptake. This study describes the awareness, experiences and perceptions of telehealth in an Australian rural community.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 47 participants from three rural towns in the Darling Downs region of Queensland. Content analysis was used to abstract themes and core concepts from the interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three participants were healthcare providers who had all previously used telehealth in their clinical practice. Twenty-seven (57 %) participants regularly travelled to access specialist healthcare. While 28 (60 %) participants were aware of telehealth, only six (13 %) had actually used telehealth services; three as patients and three as healthcare providers. Major themes evident included: acceptance of the need to travel; paternalism and empowerment; and trust and misconceptions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For telehealth initiatives to be successful, there needs to be greater public awareness and understanding of the potential benefits of telehealth. Empowering patients as partners in the delivery of healthcare may be an important factor in the growth of telehealth services.
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, Centre for Online Health, PAH Telehealth Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia. n.bradford@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Natalie K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Bradford
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, Centre for Online Health, PAH Telehealth Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia. l.caffery@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Liam J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Caffery
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland, Centre for Online Health, PAH Telehealth Centre, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia. asmith@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Anthony C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011793:Queensland; D012424:Rural Population; D017216:Telemedicine; D014195:Travel / Q000191:economics; D055815:Young Adult