A Scoping Literature Review of Rural Beliefs and Attitudes toward Telehealth Utilization

Abstract

The purpose of this scoping literature review was to understand what is known about how the rural profile influences beliefs regarding telehealth utilization. Rural nursing theory (RNT) provided a framework for the review. Search criteria were limited to peer-reviewed studies conducted in Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. A variety of search terms related to patient telehealth perceptions generated 213 unique articles, of which 10 met the inclusion criteria. Included studies incorporated qualitative methodologies and were from Australia, Canada, Sweden, or the United States. The review highlighted four themes related to the rural profile’s influence on telehealth beliefs: importance of familiar relationships, concerns with privacy and confidentiality, acceptance of limited access to care, and resourcefulness and frugality. These themes echo concepts within RNT. Nurses and other health professionals must acknowledge the rural profile’s influence on a person’s decision to use telehealth in order to provide optimal care.