How can the FHT in Mount Forest use technology and social media in a patient centred way: A Needs Assessment

How can the FHT in Mount Forest use technology and social media in a patient centred way:  A Needs Assessment

(A quick overview)

 Why bother

·       Very little in the literature about how rural residents access the internet and social media to answer their health related questions – to fill this gap for other rural practitioners

·       Believe that due to physical restraints on technology, many patients prefer data plans associated with mobile devices to desk top computers

·       The FHT wants to provide patients with appropriate educational materials, provide text or email reminders and/or coaching in a way that patients will want to use

·       To provide background for further research into implementation of a patient centred social media program in a rural FM team

Lit Review will include:

·       Info available on suburban vs urban social media, rural internet use in the USA 5 years ago

·       How social media helps patients (benefits of text coaching, blogs and online help groups)

·       Rural docs use tech, urban docs using social media with each other and implications for patients

·       List of usual social media associated w health information

·       How to survey patients about social media and technology

Lit Review is missing:

·       Social media use, lately, in Ontario

·       How to make our patient education resources online patient centred

Purpose and Significance of this study:

·       To direct the implementation of technology and social media into the Mount Forest FHT

·       To provide rural med community with information to improve patient care in their community

·       To discover what information patients want from their FM team to direct implementation of  evidence based info in a patient centred way (matching age, level of health, with tech and questions)

·       To propose a method of surveying a rural community about technology needs

·       To provide background information needed for a pilot study on using handheld devices in health care settings in a patient centred way

Initial Survey Questions

·       What type of technology does pt use to access the internet? (desktop computer, smart phone, tablet)

·       Location most often accesses internet

·       Does patient have privacy with accessing the  internet

·       Which social media does patient use? Which 3 of these do they use most often? (facebook, twitter, email, 4square, snapchat, skype, pinterest, vine, blogs, youtube, massive online gaming, linked in, google +, instagram, other)

·       Age? Level of health on most days?

·       What topics would you like information about from your FD?

·       Do you trust info from blogs etc.? Would you trust information you were directed to from your family doc?

·       Would you like to get email or text reminders of upcoming appointments?

·       How often do you search for information about your health on the internet?