User acceptance of the Web-based distribution of radiology services in regional and remote centres of Western Australia.

A large-scale, Web browser-based radiological information system integrated with a picture archiving and communication system (RIS/PACS) has been installed in regional and remote radiology centres of Western Australia. This provides patients in rural areas with local access to advanced medical imaging. User attitudes to the changes were surveyed in a six-week period starting in March 2005. A total of 53 people completed the survey (62% response rate). Respondents were eight radiologists, 21 medical imaging technologists, 10 administration officers and 14 reception staff. All groups gave average ratings of the system's quality. All staff rated the information quality of the system as good. On-site information technology support was judged to be reliable, professional and empathic towards user concerns. There was a broad range of opinion between groups, but on average they were satisfied. The lack of a modern network, comparable to what is available in the metropolitan areas, has impeded the full potential of RIS/PACS in the smaller rural centres.