Prioritizing the factors influencing places of rural health centers equipped with telehealth services using Analytical Hierarchy Process

Reza  Safdari; Marjan  Ghazisaeedi; Abbas  Sheikhtaheri; Marzieh  Saremian

Journal of Clinical Research in Paramedical Sciences

The Official Journal of Paramedical School, KUMS

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Prioritizing the factors influencing places of rural health centers equipped with telehealth services using Analytical Hierarchy Process

Author(s):

Reza Safdari¹,

Marjan Ghazisaeedi¹,

Abbas Sheikhtaheri²,

Marzieh Saremian^1,*

1Department of Health Information Management, School Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2Department of Health Information Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Journal of Clinical Research in Paramedical Sciences:Vol. 4, issue 1; e81950

Published online:May 10, 2015

Article type:Research Article

Received:Oct 01, 2014

Accepted:Mar 14, 2015

How to Cite:Safdari R, Ghazisaeedi M, Sheikhtaheri A, Saremian M. Prioritizing the factors influencing places of rural health centers equipped with telehealth services using Analytical Hierarchy Process.J Clin Res Paramed Sci.2015;4(1):e81950.

Abstract

Background: The use of telehealth programs in rural areas has led to increase access to health care services for patients in these areas. Implementing the activities in the proper places can be accompanied with achieving a higher efficiency. This study aimed to identify and prioritize the factors influencing places of rural health centers equipped with telehealth services using Analytical Hierarchy Process.
Methods: This study was a descriptive cross sectional study and performed in 2014. Participants were 30 persons including expert people working in network development and faculty members of health information management and technology department. The
data collection tools were two researcher-made questionnaires.
The tools' validity and reliability were previously confirmed. We used SPSS (version 16) and Expert Choice (version 11) for data analyses.
Results: Findings of this study revealed that all criteria and subcriteria for electronic services quality evaluation have been confirmed. Among these criteria and sub-criteria, "population", "access" and "the communication networks” had the highest priority and “distance from military areas” had the lowest priority.
Conclusion: The identification and prioritization of the affecting factors on the determination of places of health centers with telehealth services are key elements in equity distribution of these centers. Furthermore, this proper distribution leads to
appropriate access to high quality health care services, saving time and money, and reducing unnecessary transfer. Additionally, these can increase the quality of planning and the quality of life in patients particularly in remote areas.

Keywords

determining the location

rural health centers

Telehealth

Analytical Hierarchy Process

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