Prioritizing the factors influencing places of rural health centers equipped with telehealth services using Analytical Hierarchy Process

The use of telehealth programs in rural areas has led to increase access to health care services for patients in these areas. Implementing the activities in the proper places can be accompanied with achieving a higher efficiency. This study aimed to identify and prioritize the factors influencing places of rural health centers equipped with telehealth services using Analytical Hierarchy Process. This study was a descriptive cross sectional study and performed in 2014. Participants were 30 persons including expert people working in network development and faculty members of health information management and technology department. The data collection tools were two researcher-made questionnaires. The tool's validity and reliability were previously confirmed. We used SPSS (version 16) and Expert Choice (version 11) for data analyses. Findings of this study revealed that all criteria and sub-criteria for electronic services quality evaluation have been confirmed. Among these criteria and sub-criteria, "population", "access" and "the communication networks” had the highest priority and “distance from military areas” had the lowest priority. The identification and prioritization of the affecting factors on the determination of places of health centers with telehealth services are key elements in equity distribution of these centers. Furthermore, this proper distribution leads to appropriate access to high quality health care services, saving time and money, and reducing unnecessary transfer. Additionally, these can increase the quality of planning and the quality of life in patients particularly in remote areas.