Community stakeholder‐driven technology solutions towards rural health equity

A concept mapping study in Western Canada

Bibliographic Data

ID19508340
AuthorsCherisse L Seaton (0000-0003-4646-9894, School of Nursing University of British Columbia, Okanagan Kelowna British Columbia Canada, corresponding author), Pierre Rondier (Research and Innovation Office University of British Columbia, Okanagan Kelowna British Columbia Canada), Kathy L Rush (0000-0002-0879-7187, School of Nursing University of British Columbia, Okanagan Kelowna British Columbia Canada), Eric Ping Hung Li (0000-0003-2787-6769, University of British Columbia), Katrina M Plamondon (0000-0002-2817-0621, School of Nursing University of British Columbia, Okanagan Kelowna British Columbia Canada), Barb Pesut (School of Nursing University of British Columbia, Okanagan Kelowna British Columbia Canada), Nelly D Oelke (0000-0002-1666-5360, School of Nursing University of British Columbia, Okanagan Kelowna British Columbia Canada), Sarah Dow-Fleisner (0000-0003-2414-5856, University of British Columbia), Sarah Dow‐Fleisner (School of Social Work University of British Columbia, Okanagan Kelowna British Columbia Canada), Khalad Hasan (0009-0006-2890-5460, Computer Science University of British Columbia, Okanagan Kelowna British Columbia Canada), Leanne M Currie (0000-0002-8232-2809, School of Nursing University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada), Donna Lm Kurtz (0000-0002-3342-215X, University of British Columbia), Donna Kurtz (School of Nursing University of British Columbia, Okanagan Kelowna British Columbia Canada), Charlotte Jones (0000-0002-7348-4662, Faculty of Medicine University of British Columbia, Okanagan Kelowna British Columbia Canada), Joan L Bottorff (0000-0001-9724-5351, School of Nursing University of British Columbia, Okanagan Kelowna British Columbia Canada)
Year2022
Volume25
Issue6
Pages3202-3214
Publication date2022-12-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Expectations (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-6513 • E-ISSN: 1369-7625
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/hex.13627
PMID36245334
OpenAlexW4306390974
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited34

BACKGROUND: Technology holds great potential for promoting health equity for rural populations, who have more chronic illnesses than their urban counterparts but less access to services. Yet, more participatory research approaches are needed to gather community-driven health technology solutions. The purpose was to collaboratively identify and prioritize action strategies for using technology to promote rural health equity through community stakeholder engagement. METHODS: Concept mapping, a quantitative statistical technique, embedded within a qualitative approach, was used to identify and integrate technological solutions towards rural health equity from community stakeholders in three steps: (1) idea generation; (2) sorting and rating feasibility/importance and (3) group interpretation. Purposeful recruitment strategies were used to recruit key stakeholders and organizational representatives from targeted rural communities. RESULTS: Overall, 34 rural community stakeholders from western Canada (76% female, mean age = 55.4 years) participated in the concept mapping process. In Step 1, 84 ideas were generated that were reduced to a pool of 30. Multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis resulted in a six-cluster map representing how technological solutions can contribute toward rural health equity. The clusters of ideas included technological solutions and applications, but also ideas to make health care more accessible regardless of location, training and support in the use of technology, ensuring digital tools are simplified for ease of use, technologies to support collaboration among healthcare professionals and ideas for overcoming challenges to data sharing across health systems/networks. Each cluster included ideas that were rated as equally important and feasible. Key themes included organizational and individual-level solutions and connecting patients to newly developed technologies. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the grouping of solutions revealed that technological applications require not only access but also support and collaboration. Concept mapping is a tool that can engage rural community stakeholders in the identification of technological solutions for promoting rural health equity. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Rural community stakeholders were involved in the generation and interpretation of technological solutions towards rural health equity in a three-step process: (1) individual brainstorming of ideas, (2) sorting and rating all ideas generated and (3) collective interpretation and group consensus on final results

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