National Centre for Remote and Rural Health and Care: Information Hub

Muirhead, Kevin (2023) Exploring the role of technology-enabled dementia education and support for health and social care practitioners in rural Scotland — University of the Highlands and Islands

This PhD thesis explores the role of technology-enabled dementia education (TEDE) in addressing training needs among rural health and social care practitioners (HSCP) in Scotland. A mixed methods study revealed that rural HSCP are receptive to TEDE, with training needs highest in acute care. Five themes emerged from qualitative insights: rural dementia care culture, drivers for TEDE adoption, readiness, collaboration needs, and effective pedagogical strategies. The combined findings offer practical recommendations for TEDE design and policy changes to support rural HSCP.  The findings highlight the importance of tailored educational strategies to overcome geographic and access challenges faced by the rural workforce in Scotland.

Carriere, Romi (2021), Does where you live impact on cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survival? a mixed-methods approach. - Carriere, R.Does.pdf, University of Aberdeen

This PhD thesis investigates why cancer patients in rural Northeast Scotland experience poorer survival rates despite earlier diagnoses compared to urban patients. Through a mixed-methods approach, including a systematic literature review, data analysis using the NASCAR+ cohort, and semi-structured patient interviews, the study highlights post-diagnostic challenges related to travel and access to services. Results revealed that longer travel times negatively impacted survival and treatment outcomes, and patients noted logistical difficulties in post-diagnostic care. This research underscores the critical need to address travel burdens in cancer care to improve rural health outcomes and inform relevant policy and intervention strategies.

Nicoll, Pam (2021), The design, implementation and testing of a technology enhanced learning evaluation tool for healthcare professional education programmes: — University of the Highlands and Islands  

This PhD thesis examines the use of technology-enhanced learning (TEL) in healthcare professional education, which facilitates ongoing training despite time or geographical barriers. The study identified a lack of robust evaluation tools for assessing TEL's impact, leading to challenges such as inconsistent uptake, failure to deliver quality education, and limited reusability across sectors. The thesis underscores the importance of a comprehensive evaluation tool to measure TEL's effectiveness and ensure it supports safe and impactful healthcare practice. The research findings have potential to improve educational access for rural healthcare professionals, ensuring quality training that overcomes geographic challenges.