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This qualitative study aims to assess the value of e-health in rural areas of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The study was meant to appraise the current state of e-health readiness in rural Limpopo areas and identify any barriers to effective health service delivery. Data were collected through interviews with rural health providers from the province. The study defined e-health as an approach in which health services can be provided comprehensively by using information and communication technologies (ICTs) in a more cost-effective, efficient, and quicker way than when manual methods are used. It then established that rural health in Limpopo is deficient and almost dysfunctional because of rural health in Limpopo is deficient and almost dysfunctional because of lacking infrastructure and other problems due to scarcity of resources. Transport and road conditions, as well as a lack of patient transport, made rural health services extremely poor. The study realised that by restructuring the rural health systems in the province, there are ample opportunities to enable e-health mode to rural health service. Therefore, the study recommended restructuring rural health and then introducing it.

Although telehealth use in social work practice is not a new concept, its adoption has significantly increased in recent years due to growth in technology use and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there exist gaps in understanding how social workers are using and experiencing telehealth in their practice. This scoping review synthesizes literature on the use of telehealth in social work practice. Guided by Arksey and O’Malley, we will search for literature on five databases: Web of Science, PUBMED, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. Using Rayyan screening software, two independent reviewers will screen articles at the title, abstract, and full-text levels. Key characteristics and key themes of the selected articles that meet the inclusion criteria will be charted on a Microsoft Excel sheet. Qualitative thematic analysis will be used to analyze the themes. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) will be used to report the scoping review processes. The review will contribute to the broader understanding of telehealth in social work practice and inform the development of best practices and current gaps in research on telehealth in social work practice. The results will be disseminated to researchers, schools of social work, and practitioners through manuscript publications and relevant conferences.

Although telehealth use in social work practice is not a new concept, its adoption has significantly increased in recent years due to growth in technology use and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there exist gaps in understanding how social workers are using and experiencing telehealth in their practice. This scoping review synthesizes literature on the use of telehealth in social work practice. Guided by Arksey and O’Malley, we will search for literature on five databases: Web of Science, PUBMED, SCOPUS, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. Using Rayyan screening software, two independent reviewers will screen articles at the title, abstract, and full-text levels. Key characteristics and key themes of the selected articles that meet the inclusion criteria will be charted on a Microsoft Excel sheet. Qualitative thematic analysis will be used to analyze the themes. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) will be used to report the scoping review processes. The review will contribute to the broader understanding of telehealth in social work practice and inform the development of best practices and current gaps in research on telehealth in social work practice. The results will be disseminated to researchers, schools of social work, and practitioners through manuscript publications and relevant conferences.

This qualitative study aims to assess the value of e-health in rural areas of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The study was meant to appraise the current state of e-health readiness in rural Limpopo areas and identify any barriers to effective health service delivery. Data were collected through interviews with rural health providers from the province. The study defined e-health as an approach in which health services can be provided comprehensively by using information and communication technologies (ICTs) in a more cost-effective, efficient, and quicker way than when manual methods are used. It then established that rural health in Limpopo is deficient and almost dysfunctional because of rural health in Limpopo is deficient and almost dysfunctional because of lacking infrastructure and other problems due to scarcity of resources. Transport and road conditions, as well as a lack of patient transport, made rural health services extremely poor. The study realised that by restructuring the rural health systems in the province, there are ample opportunities to enable e-health mode to rural health service. Therefore, the study recommended restructuring rural health and then introducing it.