Journal article
Clients' views on a piloted telemedicine sexual health service for rural youth
CC Garrett, M Kirkman, MY Chen, R Cummings, C Fuller, J Hocking, JE Tomnay, CK Fairley
Sexual Health | CSIRO PUBLISHING | Published : 2012
DOI: 10.1071/SH11022
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 1524 were given a questionnaire. A sub-sample was interviewed. Results: The service was used by 25 rural youths aged 1524; 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. © 2012 CSIRO.
Grants
Awarded by NHMRC
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors thank Mark Chung and all participants for their generous contributions of time and insights. The MSHC contributed the $100 compensation to the interviewees. The TESTme service was funded by the Department of Health. The Department of Health did not exercise any influence on the content of the manuscript. CCG was awarded a Melbourne International Research Scholarship, a Melbourne International Free Remission Scholarship, and an Institute for a Broadband-Enabled Society PhD Top-Up Scholarship to undertake her doctoral research. JH is supported by a NHMRC Career Development Award (ID: 566576). The funders exercised no influence on the research.