Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42897484›Full record

ArticleBMC primary care2026

Digital health technologies to improve access to comprehensive primary health care in remote Northern Territory, Australia: qualitative findings from thought leader interviews.

Vishnu Khanal, Emily Saurman, Nicki Newton, Kureisha Wilson, Josielli Comachio, Karina Coombes, Alexandar Puruntatameri, Hilda Bert, Amy Von Huben, Sarah Norris and 12 more

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Article in BMC primary care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

22 authors.

Vishnu KhanalMenzies School of Health Research, Remote Health Systems and Climate Change Centre, Charles Darwin University, Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory, Australia. Vishnu.khanal@menzies.edu.au.
Emily SaurmanSchool of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Warrane (Sydney), NSW, Australia.
Nicki NewtonSchool of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Warrane (Sydney), NSW, Australia.
Kureisha WilsonMenzies School of Health Research, Remote Health Systems and Climate Change Centre, Charles Darwin University, Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory, Australia.
Josielli ComachioSchool of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Warrane (Sydney), NSW, Australia.
Karina CoombesMenzies School of Health Research, Remote Health Systems and Climate Change Centre, Charles Darwin University, Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory, Australia.
Alexandar PuruntatameriMenzies School of Health Research, Remote Health Systems and Climate Change Centre, Charles Darwin University, Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory, Australia.
Hilda BertMenzies School of Health Research, Remote Health Systems and Climate Change Centre, Charles Darwin University, Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory, Australia.
Amy Von HubenLeeder Centre for Health Policy, Economics & Data (The Leeder Centre), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Warrane (Sydney), NSW, Australia.
Sarah NorrisLeeder Centre for Health Policy, Economics & Data (The Leeder Centre), Faculty of Medicine and Health, Warrane (Sydney), NSW, Australia.
Meredith MakehamSchool of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Warrane (Sydney), NSW, Australia.
Michelle DicksonThe Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Warrane (Sydney), NSW, Australia.
Sean TaylorOnemda: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Naarm (Melbourne), VIC, Australia.
Paul BurgessNorthern Territory Department of Health, Garramilla (Darwin), Northern Territory, Australia.
Tamsin CockayneNorthern Territory Department of Health, Garramilla (Darwin), Northern Territory, Australia.
Jeff RobsonNorthern Territory Department of Health, Garramilla (Darwin), Northern Territory, Australia.
David ReeveAboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT), Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory, Australia.
David EdwardsUniversity Centre for Rural Health, The University of Sydney, Warrane (Sydney), NSW, Australia.
Alison LloydNorthern Territory Primary Health Network, Garramilla (Darwin), Northern Territory, Australia.
John WakermanMenzies School of Health Research, Remote Health Systems and Climate Change Centre, Charles Darwin University, Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory, Australia.
Tim ShawSchool of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Warrane (Sydney), NSW, Australia.
Deborah RussellMenzies School of Health Research, Remote Health Systems and Climate Change Centre, Charles Darwin University, Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Northern Territory, Australia.

Funding

Digital Health CRC R0179
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundExisting literature shows the potential of digital health technologies (DHTs) to improve access to Comprehensive Primary Health Care (CPHC) by overcoming various challenges to care provision. However, the usefulness of DHTs in the remote Northern Territory (NT) Australian context to support the delivery of CPHC has rarely been explored. This study explores thought leaders' perspectives about the key challenges to accessing CPHC services and the role of DHTs in overcoming these challenges in remote NT.

methodsIn-depth interviews were conducted with 17 participants between February 2023 and February 2024 who were working or had previously worked in remote NT, including in leadership, governance, and management roles with the NT Health Department or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services. Thematic analysis was conducted using a deductive approach based on the theory of access.

resultsKey challenges to accessing CPHC in remote NT include workforce issues (staff shortages, high staff turnover, poor continuity of care), the large distances and high costs of providing care, and issues related to how health care services were organised and delivered. Participants highlighted the potential of DHTs for improving challenges relating to provider availability, continuity of care, and high service delivery costs incurred by health services. Challenges to implementing DHT solutions were also raised which were broadly classified as technical and non-technical. Poor digital infrastructure, intermittent connectivity, and the lack of interoperability of systems between healthcare organisations were key technical challenges. Low rates of digital device ownership and low digital literacy of community members, together with limited local availability of skilled staff to support DHT solutions, and the lack of flexibility in the way appointments were organise were identified as key non-technical challenges.

conclusionsThere was optimism that DHTs could substantially improve CPHC access in remote NT. Telehealth, used where clinically and culturally appropriate and in combination with face-to-face care using a hybrid approach, could potentially improve remote patients' access to a range of healthcare providers, reduce patients' and providers' need to travel and improve continuity of care. This will necessitate increased investment in training local Aboriginal people to support communities' access to DHTs and improve the quality and cultural safety of care.

Indexed as

Health Services AccessibilityHealth Services, IndigenousPrimary Health CareRural Health ServicesAccess to Primary CareDigital HealthHumansInterviews as TopicNorthern TerritoryQualitative ResearchTelemedicineAboriginal healthDigital healthPrimary careRemote healthTelehealth

Identifiers

PMID42897484
PMCPMC13681752

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.