Understanding Rural Healthcare Access

Our research aims to identify how people in rural areas overcome the difficulties and barriers associated with accessing healthcare - this was out initial objective. After conducting desk research, we decided to focus on the community support aspect, so we rephrased the initial objective.

Our multi-phase research approach combined three complementary methods to understand rural healthcare access comprehensively. We began with desk research to establish foundational context and identify existing knowledge gaps within rural healthcare systems. Through 5 in-depth interviews with participants aged 29 to 93 from rural Scandinavian areas, we captured diverse lived experiences and perspectives across generations. Finally, we conducted thematic analysis of interview transcripts to systematically identify recurring patterns and insights across participant narratives.

Desk research revealed rural healthcare as a complex interconnected system where multiple barriers compound each other. Our analysis uncovered how transportation limitations, healthcare professional shortages, facility closures, and weak community networks create cascading effects that disproportionately impact elderly residents without strong social support. The research highlighted a critical pattern: individuals requiring healthcare assistance often lacked reliable access to both formal medical services and informal community support, creating dangerous gaps in care continuity.

What are the healthcare experiences and needs of individuals in rural areas, and how frequently do they access services?

How is healthcare access managed in rural areas, and who is responsible for providing support?

What are the primary barriers to accessing healthcare in rural areas, including transportation, availability, and systemic challenges?

How do social networks and community resources contribute to healthcare access and support in rural areas?

How do rural residents use and perceive technology in managing healthcare?

What are the key concerns and priorities for improving healthcare in rural communities?

We analyzed interview transcripts and identified four key themes: community dependency, technology-human balance, delayed healthcare, and transportation barriers.

People in rural areas without a strong social network are at higher risk, as the Scandinavian healthcare system doesn't provide all the support services they rely on when accessing healthcare.

Elderly people need a balance of technology and human interaction in healthcare, as purely tech-based solutions lack the trust and engagement essential for effective care. 

Limited healthcare access in rural areas, leads people to delay seeking care, increasing health risks and reinforcing reactive rather than preventive healthcare.

In rural areas, transportation is so tied to healthcare that people often talk about road conditions when sharing their healthcare experiences.

HMW empower communities in rural Scandinavia to better support elderly individuals without family or strong social networks in accessing essential healthcare?*

Based on our research findings, I am currently developing CareCall, an AI-powered voice assistant designed to address the identified healthcare access gaps. The solution directly responds to key research insights: elderly participants' need for technology-human balance led to a phone-based interface, while community dependency themes informed automated check-in features that supplement missing family support networks.