Clients’ views on a piloted telemedicine sexual health service for rural youth
Cameryn C. Garrett A , Maggie Kirkman A B , Marcus Y. Chen C D , Rosey Cummings C , Candice Fuller C , Jane Hocking A , Jane E. Tomnay E and Christopher K. Fairley C D FA Centre for Women’s Health, Gender and Society, Melbourne School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.
B The Jean Hailes Research Unit, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia.
C Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Alfred Hospital, 580 Swanston Street, Carlton, Vic. 3053, Australia.
D Sexual Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.
E Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health, Rural Health Academic Centre, The University of Melbourne, 49 Graham Street, Shepparton, Vic. 3630, Australia.
F Corresponding author. Email: cfairley@mshc.org.au
Sexual Health 9(2) 192-193 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH11022
Submitted: 10 February 2011 Accepted: 20 June 2011 Published: 30 March 2012
Abstract
Background: Given the high rate of sexually transmissible infections among young people and limited rural access to specialist healthcare, an Australian telemedicine service was piloted. Clients’ views were investigated. Methods: All clients aged 15–24 were given a questionnaire. A sub-sample was interviewed. Results: The service was used by 25 rural youths aged 15–24; 18 returned the questionnaire, 4 were interviewed. All had a telephone consultation. They reported being satisfied with the service; most preferred the telemedicine service to consulting a doctor in person. Conclusions: Online video consultations for sexual health may not yet be accep to young people in Australia.
Additional keywords: Australia, sexually transmissible infections, video consultations.
References
[1] Department of Health and Ageing. National notifiable diseases surveillance system: number of notifications of chlamydial infection, Australia, 2010 by age group and sex. Woden, ACT: Department of Health and Ageing, Australian Government; 2010. Available online at: http://www9.health.gov.au/cda/source/Rpt_5.cfm [verified February 2011].[2] Quine S, Bernard D, Booth M, Kang M, Usherwood T, Alperstein G, et al Health and access issues among Australian adolescents: a rural–urban comparison. Rural Remote Health 2003; 3 245
| 1:STN:280:DC%2BD2M3ksFaquw%3D%3D&md5=e9af8bed968697fe2c7a3a89ff4ad25dCAS | 15882102PubMed |
[3] Stewart FJ, Rosenthal DA. Rural and urban female secondary school students’ attitudes towards and use of primary care services. Aust J Rural Health 1997; 5 126–31.
| Rural and urban female secondary school students’ attitudes towards and use of primary care services.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK1c7gtVKlug%3D%3D&md5=591585630e02dba10b78e4947b395665CAS | 9437939PubMed |
[4] Warr D, Hillier L. ‘That’s the problem with living in a small town’: privacy and sexual health issues for young rural people. Aust J Rural Health 1997; 5 132–9.
| ‘That’s the problem with living in a small town’: privacy and sexual health issues for young rural people.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK1c7gtVKluw%3D%3D&md5=a8572af1596997891af36377714bcef2CAS | 9437940PubMed |
[5] Moffatt JJ, Eley DS. The reported benefits of telehealth for rural Australians. Aust Health Rev 2010; 34 276–81.
| The reported benefits of telehealth for rural Australians.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20797357PubMed |
[6] Kopel H, Nunn K, Dossetor D. Evaluating satisfaction with a child and adolescent psychological telemedicine outreach service. J Telemed Telecare 2001; 7 35–40.
| Evaluating satisfaction with a child and adolescent psychological telemedicine outreach service.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11747654PubMed |
[7] Pesamaa L, Ebeling H, Kuusimaki M-L, Winblad I, Isohanni M, Moilanen I. Videoconferencing in child and adolescent telepsychiatry: a systematic review of the literature. J Telemed Telecare 2004; 10 187–92.
| Videoconferencing in child and adolescent telepsychiatry: a systematic review of the literature.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15273027PubMed |
[8] Starling J, Rosina R, Nunn K, Dossetor D. Child and adolescent telepsychiatry in New South Wales: moving beyond clinical consultation. Australas Psychiatry 2003; 11 S117–21.
| Child and adolescent telepsychiatry in New South Wales: moving beyond clinical consultation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
[9] Booth ML, Bernard D, Quine S, Kang MS, Usherwood T, Alperstein G, et al Access to health care among Australian adolescents young people’s perspectives and their sociodemographic distribution. J Adolesc Health 2004; 34 97–103.
| 14706412PubMed |
