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Background <p>Existing literature shows the potential of digital health technologies (DHTs) to improve access to Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) by overcoming various challenges to care provision. However, the usefulness of DHTs in the remote Northern Territory (NT) Australian context to support the delivery of CPHC has rarely been explored. This study explores thought leaders’ perspectives about the key challenges to accessing CPHC services and the role of DHTs in overcoming these challenges in remote NT.</p> Methods <p>In-depth interviews were conducted with 17 participants between February 2023 and February 2024 who were working or had previously worked in remote NT, including in leadership, governance, and management roles with the NT Health Department or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. Thematic analysis was conducted using a deductive approach based on the theory of access.</p> Results <p>Key challenges to accessing CPHC in remote NT include workforce issues (staff shortages, high staff turnover, poor continuity of care), the large distances and high costs of providing care, and issues related to how health care services were organised and delivered. Participants highlighted the potential of DHTs for improving challenges relating to provider availability, continuity of care, and high service delivery costs incurred by health services. Challenges to implementing DHT solutions were also raised which were broadly classified as technical and non-technical. Poor digital infrastructure, intermittent connectivity, and the lack of interoperability of systems between healthcare organisations were key technical challenges. Low rates of digital device ownership and low digital literacy of community members, together with limited local availability of skilled staff to support DHT solutions, and the lack of flexibility in the way appointments were organise were identified as key non-technical challenges.</p> Conclusions <p>There was optimism that DHTs could substantially improve CPHC access in remote NT. Telehealth, used where clinically and culturally appropriate and in combination with face-to-face care using a hybrid approach, could potentially improve remote patients’ access to a range of healthcare providers, reduce patients’ and providers’ need to travel and improve continuity of care. This will necessitate increased investment in training local Aboriginal people to support communities’ access to DHTs and improve the quality and cultural safety of care.</p>

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Digital health technologies to improve access to comprehensive primary health care in remote Northern Territory, Australia: qualitative findings from thought leader interviews

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月22日

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  • Vishnu Khanal,
  • Emily Saurman,
  • Nicki Newton,
  • Kureisha Wilson,
  • Josielli Comachio,
  • Karina Coombes,
  • Alexandar Puruntatameri,
  • Hilda Bert,
  • Amy Von Huben,
  • Sarah Norris,
  • Meredith Makeham,
  • Michelle Dickson,
  • Sean Taylor,
  • Paul Burgess,
  • Tamsin Cockayne,
  • Jeff Robson,
  • David Reeve,
  • David Edwards,
  • Alison Lloyd,
  • John Wakerman,
  • Tim Shaw,
  • Deborah Russell

摘要

Background

Existing literature shows the potential of digital health technologies (DHTs) to improve access to Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) by overcoming various challenges to care provision. However, the usefulness of DHTs in the remote Northern Territory (NT) Australian context to support the delivery of CPHC has rarely been explored. This study explores thought leaders’ perspectives about the key challenges to accessing CPHC services and the role of DHTs in overcoming these challenges in remote NT.

Methods

In-depth interviews were conducted with 17 participants between February 2023 and February 2024 who were working or had previously worked in remote NT, including in leadership, governance, and management roles with the NT Health Department or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. Thematic analysis was conducted using a deductive approach based on the theory of access.

Results

Key challenges to accessing CPHC in remote NT include workforce issues (staff shortages, high staff turnover, poor continuity of care), the large distances and high costs of providing care, and issues related to how health care services were organised and delivered. Participants highlighted the potential of DHTs for improving challenges relating to provider availability, continuity of care, and high service delivery costs incurred by health services. Challenges to implementing DHT solutions were also raised which were broadly classified as technical and non-technical. Poor digital infrastructure, intermittent connectivity, and the lack of interoperability of systems between healthcare organisations were key technical challenges. Low rates of digital device ownership and low digital literacy of community members, together with limited local availability of skilled staff to support DHT solutions, and the lack of flexibility in the way appointments were organise were identified as key non-technical challenges.

Conclusions

There was optimism that DHTs could substantially improve CPHC access in remote NT. Telehealth, used where clinically and culturally appropriate and in combination with face-to-face care using a hybrid approach, could potentially improve remote patients’ access to a range of healthcare providers, reduce patients’ and providers’ need to travel and improve continuity of care. This will necessitate increased investment in training local Aboriginal people to support communities’ access to DHTs and improve the quality and cultural safety of care.