Development and Feasibility Evaluation of a Telehealth System (Impak Sihat) to Empower Rural Population in Malaysia on the Quality Use of Medicines

The global rise of chronic diseases necessitates quality use of medicines (QUM) and adherence for effective management. Insufficient QUM understanding among patients adversely affects healthcare outcomes in Malaysia. High rates of irrational medication use, particularly in rural areas, are influenced by various factors. Continuous engagement from healthcare providers is essential, potentially facilitated by a tailored telehealth system. This study aimed to design a customized telehealth system for Malaysias rural population and assess patient experiences and acceptance. The study comprised three phases: i) a qualitative pre-development phase exploring internet access and health information-seeking behaviours; ii)development of the telehealth system (Impak Sihat-healthy impact) based on identified needs; and iii) a post-development feasibility evaluation of the Impak Sihat system through community demonstration and validated questionnaires. Fifteen respondents were interviewed during the pre-development phase, achieving saturation and revealing insights on health issues, internet usage, social media preferences, and technology literacy. A customized telehealth system was developed, addressing the identified needs with relevant content and resources. Following system development, a feasibility study with 77 participants indicated acceptable scores of 73 to 87% across six domains. However, older age was significantly linked to lower scores in the User-friendly features and ease of learning and understanding domain (p<0.01). The telehealth system effectively meets Malaysias rural populations needs and has been successfully developed. To optimize this systems effectiveness, considerations regarding older age, socioeconomic status, internet reliability, and information confidentiality must be addressed.