OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to assess the potential users' needs for a tele-health surveillance system and to develop a program that reflects the clients' needs.

METHODS: A descriptive study was conducted using interviews with a questionnaire during home visitations. Four hundred subjects from residences two affluent areas of Korea were selected by convenience sampling.

RESULTS: Through the tele-health surveillance system, they wanted to manage diseases such as heart disease(23.0%), cancers(20.5%) and endocrine diseases(17.5%). The highest score for areas of the tele-health surveillance system was cancer screening. The most highly preferred reporting system was immediate reporting of the screening results by a personal digital assistant with a tailored health management system that reflects their own bio-signals.

CONCLUSION: Potential users want to manage their health in disease prevention and health promotion as well as treating diseases. These aspects should be considered in the development and utilization of a tele-health surveillance system.