Clinicians' perception of using digital stethoscopes in telehealth platform: Queensland telehealth preliminary study

Abstract

Many developed countries including Australia became aware of the need for establishing telehealth systems in order to provide better services for patients located in remote and ruler areas. An interpretive research approach was adopted for this research as it can help to understand human thought and action in social and organisational contexts in this case the healthcare organisation. This study adopts observation as a qualitative research technique, to explore clinicians’ perception of using Digital stethoscope in Queensland telehealth domain. It was aimed to identify the issues that are associated to influence users' perceptions of the system. This research contributes to the existing knowledge of use of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The preliminary findings show that sound quality, usefulness and digital stethoscope's physical features may influence clinicians' usage of Digital stethoscopes in telehealth healthcare environment. Future research will concentrate exploring this aspect further through focus group and interview techniques regarding digital stethoscopes usage.