The Participant Recruitment Outcomes (PRO) study: Exploring contemporary perspectives of telehealth trial non-participation through insights from patients, clinicians, study investigators, and study staff.

Background: Telehealth has been proposed as an alternative means to providing traditional modes of care while alleviating the need for participant travel and reducing overall healthcare costs. The purpose of this study was to explore contemporary perspectives of patients and stakeholders regarding non-participation in telehealth trials.

Methods: We undertook a two-phase exploratory qualitative study to understand the reasons behind patient non-participation in telehealth.

The mood disorders association of british columbia psychiatric urgent care program: a preliminary evaluation of a suggested alternative model of outpatient psychiatric care.

Objective: To describe an alternative model of psychiatric outpatient care for patients with mood and anxiety disorders (the Mood Disorders Association of British Columbia Psychiatric Urgent Care Program or the MDA Program) using group medical visits (GMV) and (or) email communications in lieu of individual follow-up appointments.

Method: Annual costs of the MDA Program were compared with average costs of private psychiatrists offering outpatient care and patients being treated in a mental health centre. In addition, questionnaires as to patient satisfaction with the MDA Program intake, GMV experience, and family physician satisfaction with the MDA Program were administered.

Internet-based support for cardiovascular disease management.

With significant declines in cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, attention has shifted to patient management. Programs designed to manage CVD require the involvement of health professionals for comanagement and patients' self-management. However, these programs are commonly limited to large urban centers, resulting in limited access for rural patients.

The use of the Internet to remotely monitor patients with heart failure.

Heart failure (HF) results in high hospitalization rates and healthcare costs. Telemonitoring of HF has been shown to result in improved outcomes but usually involves the use of expensive equipment. A more feasible alternative may be the use of a Web site.

Prevalence and characteristics of home Internet access in patients with cardiovascular disease from diverse geographical locations.

Background: Patients living outside of urban centres do not have access to the same level of care as patients in cities. The use of the Internet has been suggested as a possible resolution to this geographic inequity.

Objective: To identify the determinants of Internet use in patients with cardiovascular disease and the patterns of use.

Innovation in the North: are health service providers ready for the uptake of an internet-based chronic disease management platform?

Remote and rural regions in Canada are faced with unique challenges in the delivery of primary health services. The purpose of this study was to understand how patients and healthcare professionals in northern British Columbia might make use of the Internet to manage cardiovascular diseases. The study used a qualitative methodology.