Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare > Volume 14, Number 4 > Pp. 169-172

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (3) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bulik, R. J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

EDUCATION & PRACTICE Technology

Human factors in primary care telemedicine encounters

Robert J Bulik 

AT&T Center for Telehealth Research and Policy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA

Correspondence: Dr Robert J Bulik, AT&T Center for Telehealth Research and Policy, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd., Galveston, TX 77555-0406, USA (Fax: +1 409 772 2732; Email: rjbulik{at}utmb.edu)

Traditional delivery of primary care takes place in a face-to-face transaction between provider and patient. In telemedicine, however, the transaction is ‘filtered’ by the distance and technology. The potential problem of filtered communication in a telemedicine encounter was examined from a human factors perspective. Patients with and without experience of telemedicine, and providers who had experience of telemedicine, were asked about patient–provider relationships in interviews and focus groups. Seven themes emerged: initial impressions, style of questions, field of view, physical interaction, social talk, control of encounter and ancillary services. This suggests that communication can be improved and better patient–provider relationships can be developed in a primary care telemedicine encounter if attention is paid to four areas of the interaction: verbal, non-verbal, relational and actions/transactional. The human factors dimension of telemedicine is an important element in delivery of health care at a distance – and is one of few factors over which the provider has direct control.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. F Dixon and J. E Stahl A randomized trial of virtual visits in a general medicine practice J Telemed Telecare, April 1, 2009; 15(3): 115 - 117. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Buck Nine human factors contributing to the user acceptance of telemedicine applications: a cognitive-emotional approach J Telemed Telecare, March 1, 2009; 15(2): 55 - 58. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]