An exploration of technology, healthcare, preventative education in coastal Newfoundland

Authors

  • Darlene E. Clover University of Victoria
  • Lorraine Sheehan Bay St. George Status of Women Council

Abstract

In 2002, video conferencing was introduced into five communities on the southwest coast of Newfoundland to augment health care and preventative education. Through focus groups and individual interviews with female health practitioners and community members, this study explored their concerns and visions for the future around this technology. Findings show that technical problems, issues of confidentiality, fear of further health care erosion, and lack of training are major hindrances. There is also a definite clash between technical training and distance on the one hand, and a hands-on, caring pedagogy on the other. However, video conferencing is slowly coming to be used for some diagnostic purposes, and health education and research are augmented by Internet access. If technical problems are resolved and the needs and experiences of nurse practitioners are used to guide the application of information and communication technology (ICT), then ICT will become a tool, servant, and additional support for health care and preventative education.

Résumé

En 2002, la vidéo-conférence a été introduite dans cinq communautés le long de la côte sud-ouest de Terre-Neuve afin d’améliorer les systèmes de santé et d’éducation préventif, À l’aide de groupes de discussion et d’entrevues personnalisées au sein du personnel féminin de santé et des members de la communauté, cette étude s’est penchée sur leurs inquietudes et visions au sujet des possibilités futures de cette technologie. Les résultats obtenus démontrent que les problèmes techniques, la confidentialité de l’information, la peur de la poursuite de l’érosion des soins de santé et la formation insuffisante représentent des freins considérables. Il existe aussi un conflit prononcé entre, d’une part, la formation technique à distance et d’autre part, une pédagogie de proximité. Cependant, la vidéo-conférence commence graduellement à être utilisée pour faire des diagnostiques, bien que la formation et les connaissances au sujet de la santé ont augmenté dû à l’accès répendu à internet. À moins que les problèmes et que les conflits sur la qualité de la formation soient adressés, cette forme de ‘télé-santé’ restera inefficace.

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Published

2007-11-01

How to Cite

Clover, D. E., & Sheehan, L. (2007). An exploration of technology, healthcare, preventative education in coastal Newfoundland. Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education, 20(1), 1–15. Retrieved from https://cjsae.library.dal.ca/index.php/cjsae/article/view/1114

Issue

Vol. 20 No. 1 (2007): Adult education in our country

Section

Articles

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