
Background/aimThis qualitative study formed part of a large‐scale, multi‐phase study into the delivery of therapy services to people with a disability, living in one rural area of New South Wales, Australia. The study's purpose was to identify the impact of Information and Communication Technology on the workforce practices of occupational therapists' working in a rural area of New South Wales.MethodsIndividual semi‐structured telephone interviews were conducted with 13 occupational therapists working in disability, health and private practice in a rural area of New South Wales. Participants were asked about access to, skills and limitations of using Information and Communication Technology. A modified grounded theory approach, based on thematic analysis and constant comparison, was used to analyse the interview transcripts.ResultsThis study found widespread use of technology by rurally based occupational therapists working in the disability sector in New South Wales. However, Information and Communication Technology was primarily used for client contact, professional development and professional networking rather than therapy provision. The study identified individual, workplace and community barriers to greater uptake of Information and Communication Technology by this group. The individual barriers included: age cohort, knowledge and personal preferences. The workplace barriers included: support and training and availability of resources. The community barriers included: infrastructure and perceptions of clients' acceptance.ConclusionThe potential exists for Information and Communication Technology to supplement face‐to‐face therapy provision, enhance access to professional development and reduce professional isolation thereby addressing the rural challenges of large distances, travel times and geographic isolation. To overcome these challenges, individual, workplace and community Information and Communication Technology barriers should be addressed concurrently.
Adult, Persons with Disabilities, Computer User Training, Allied Health, Computer Communication Networks, Young Adult, Occupational Therapy, Humans, Rural, 360, Disability, Attitude to Computers, Communication, Age Factors, Australia, Remote, Middle Aged, Regional, Access, Service Provision, Knowledge, Wobbly Hub, Female, Therapy, Rural Health Services, Information Technology, Medical Informatics
Adult, Persons with Disabilities, Computer User Training, Allied Health, Computer Communication Networks, Young Adult, Occupational Therapy, Humans, Rural, 360, Disability, Attitude to Computers, Communication, Age Factors, Australia, Remote, Middle Aged, Regional, Access, Service Provision, Knowledge, Wobbly Hub, Female, Therapy, Rural Health Services, Information Technology, Medical Informatics
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 27 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
