Use of appropriate healthcare technologies: a cross-sectional study in rural Zhejiang of China

Abstract

BackgroundAppropriate healthcare technologies (AHTs) are an important strategy for improving the availability and accessibility of healthcare services. It is not clear what impact AHTs have on health workers and consumers; and whether those AHTs can continue in place without special or ongoing financial support. This study investigated the attitudes of health workers and consumers towards AHTs.MethodsHealth facilities from five counties in Zhejiang were surveyed. Participants of the study included all health workers who were involved in the delivery of AHTs in the selected organizations and a group of randomly selected patients who sought services from the participating organizations. A total of 822 questionnaires from health workers and 693 questionnaires from patients were collected for data analyses. The questionnaires measured perceptions and attitudes of respondents towards AHTs using a Likert scale.ResultsThe respondents delivering public health services rated the highest scores to AHTs (4.42 ± 0.7), followed by those engaged in management of chronic conditions (4.41 ± 0.57) and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) (4.29 ± 0.55). Around 90 % of health workers believed that AHTs were meaningful for rural patients; however, only 69 % of health workers believed that the technologies encouraged by the government were sufficiently developed or “mature”, and more than 24 % acknowledged difficulties in using those technologies. Overall, patients were satisfied with AHTs, with 71.6 % feeling “very satisfied” or “satisfied”, 24.2 % feeling “acceptable” and 1.6 % feeling “dissatisfied”. Most (83 %) patients were satisfied or very satisfied with Traditional Chinese Medicine, compared with management of chronic conditions (80 %), family planning (67 %), public health services (64 %), and finally with maternal and child health care (59 %).ConclusionsLocal acceptability should be taken into consideration in determination of AHTs; consumer health literacy needs improvement, particularly in relation to public health and preventive services.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Needs of Adolescent Secondary School Girls in Bayelsa State

“…Sub-theme 1: Information on appropriate usage was mentioned by participants on the need for adequate information on appropriate usage of facilities and services as was quoted. This finding is consistent with Ren, Liu, Gao, et al (2015) study, which affirmed the use of appropriate healthcare technologies, the technologies could be information or other evidence-based approaches, in a cross-sectional study in rural Zhejiang of China. The findings demonstrate that appropriate health services information usage demonstrated that AHTs have been widely accepted by the target audience in China, on account of appropriate information on service usage.…”

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“…52,[104][105][106] However, running a successful NCD service in PHC needs skilled human resources, management systems, relevant medicines with an adequate supply, and appropriate equipment. [107][108][109] In LMICs, these are often limited due to financial considerations or a weak health infrastructure. 110,111 In PHC specifically, incorporating technologies into the services provided has the potential to accelerate PHC as the integrative hub for health care, supporting the efforts of patients, promoting collaboration with specialists, facilitating connections with nursing homes and home health, and advancing population health within a framework that improves the patient experience, quality, and value.…”

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“…Based on this evidence, the EMHP has been scaled up to develop a mobile app to deliver Health EDRM-related messages to rural communities in China. The widespread prevalence of mobile technologies expands opportunities for Mobile Health (mHealth) for Health EDRM education initiatives, particularly in low- and middle-income countries and for people in remote villages or marginalised population groups [ 46 , 47 , 48 ].…”