Awareness, knowledge, attitude, and skills of telemedicine among mental healthcare providers

Knowledge of telemedicine and its associated factors among health professional in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Telemedicine is a useful tool for decreasing hospital stress, patient suffering, ambulance needs, hospital anxiety, and costs while improving the standard of care. Nonetheless, the lack of awareness regarding telemedicine poses a barrier to its application, presenting several difficulties in underdeveloped nations like Ethiopia. This review evaluates Ethiopian-specific telemedicine knowledge and associated factors.

METHODS

This systematic review was conducted using a search of several online databases in addition to the main databases, like Medline, PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct. The writers have looked for, reviewed, and summarized information about telemedicine knowledge in the healthcare system. This study contained seven studies that examined telemedicine knowledge in the Ethiopian healthcare sector. Studies that followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA) were found using search engines. The investigation was carried out using STATA version 11. The indicator of heterogeneity (I2) was used to assess the level of heterogeneity among the included studies. The funnel plot was visually inspected, and Egger's regression test was run to check for publication bias. The pooled effect size of every study is estimated using a random-effect model meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Examination of 2160 studies, seven studies involving 2775 health professionals, and seven out of the 2160 publications assessed satisfied the inclusion criteria and were added to the systematic review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of Telemedicine knowledge was 45.20 (95% CI: 34.87-55.53). Whereas the pooled factor was computer training was 2.24 times (AOR = 2.24 (95%; CI: 1.64-3.08)), computer access was 2.07 times (AOR = 2.07 (95% CI: 1.50-2.87)), internet access was 3.09 times (AOR = 3.09 (95% CI: 1.34-7.13)), social media access were 3.09 times (AOR = 3.09(95%; CI: 1.34-7.13)), educational status degree and above were 2.73 times (AOR = 2.73; 95% CI: 0.85-8.82), Awareness were 3.18 times (AOR = 3.18 (95%; CI: 1.02-9.91)), Management support was 1.85 (AOR = 1.85 (95% CI: 01.25-2.75)), computer literacy were 2.90 times (AOR = 2.90 (95% CI: 1.81-4.64)), computer owner were 1.70 times (AOR = 1.70 (95% CI: 1.05-2.76)), male gender were 1.95 times (AOR = 1.95 (95% CI: 1.32-2.87)).

CONCLUSION

The overall pooled prevalence of telemedicine knowledge was low. Gender, education, management support, computer access, social media access, internet access, telemedicine awareness, and telemedicine training associated with telemedicine knowledge.

Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude, and Skills (AKAS) of Telemedicine and Its Use by Primary Healthcare Providers

Background

This study aimed to determine the rate of telemedicine (TM) use and the levels of awareness, knowledge, attitude, and skills of TM among primary healthcare (PHC) providers.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, 104 PHC providers were subjected to a validated AKAS scale via Survey Monkey. The tool consists of 4 parameters that users can respond to using a 4-point Likert scale to assess their awareness (12 statements), knowledge (11 statements), attitude (11 statements), and skills (13 statements) on TM. Total and percentage mean scores (PMS) were calculated for each parameter. Participants were categorized in each parameter into three categories: low (≤ 49% score), average (50-70% score), and high (≥ 71% score) levels. The association of AKAS levels with personal characteristics and TM use was investigated. The significance was set at p<0.05.

Results

One-half of participants (51%) reported current use of TM, and two-thirds (63.5%) reported a high level of AKAS, with a PMS of 72.9±14.7, 95% CI: 70.1-75.7. There were significant associations between the following: years of experience and levels of knowledge (Χ2LT = 6.77, p= 0.009) and skills (Χ2LT = 4.85, p = 0.028), respectively; and total household income and levels of skills (Χ2LT = 6.91, p= 0.009). The rate of TM use was significantly associated with awareness levels (Χ2LT = 6.14, p = 0.013). Lack of training ranked as the first barrier (45.5%), followed by connection problems and tools' unavailability (35.1% each). The participants recommended providing TM training (41.1%) and stabilization of connection and networking signals (30.1%).

Conclusion

Despite their high level of TM awareness, the rate of TM use by PHC providers is less than satisfactory. Establishing standardized TM training and supporting the network signals are recommended. A large-scale study on the impact of TM integration with PHC services is necessary.

Assessing the Awareness and Perception of Telemedicine Among the General Population in the Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia

Telemedicine plays an important role in healthcare by improving the quality of the healthcare system. However, various challenges associated with the effective implementation of telemedicine have been reported. This study aimed to explore the awareness and utilization of telemedicine services among the general population in the Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia and the factors affecting it. Using a cross-sectional design for the study, the quantitative approach was employed through a questionnaire-based survey. Data from 359 participants from the Al-Baha general population were collected, including both males and females over the age of 18. The analysis of the collected data shows a low level of familiarity within the general population; indeed, 54.9% (197) of participants have experienced using telemedicine services. Moreover, the study reveals that the major concerns influencing the use of telemedicine services are limited availability, privacy and security, and quality of care. Almost half of the participants have used telemedicine, and they expressed concerns related to quality of care, privacy and security, limited availability, and technical difficulties. However, telemedicine was positively perceived among the participants. There is a need to raise public awareness about the importance and effectiveness of telemedicine.

A case study of group art therapy using digital media for adolescents with intellectual disabilities

Introduction

In art therapy, digital art therapy is a new method in which clients use digital media to express themselves creatively. We wanted to explore what this means for adolescents with disabilities. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explain what kind of experience they had when digital media was applied as an expressive and therapeutic medium in group art therapy in which adolescents with intellectual disabilities were participants and what kind of therapeutic meaning the experience had. We tried to know the therapeutic factors by extracting the implications of meaning.

Methods

Participants were second-year high school students with intellectual disabilities who belonged to special classes. They were selected in an intentional purposive sampling method. Five teenagers with intellectual disabilities participated in 11 group art therapy sessions. Data were collected through interviews, observation, and digital artwork collection. Collected data were case studies analyzed using an inductive approach. In this study, the use of digital media was defined and utilized as "Digital Art Therapy" by setting the scope related to the study according to client's behavioral method.

Results

As a digital generation accustomed to smartphones, the participants gained confidence by repeatedly acquiring new technologies through familiarity with the media. Interaction with the media through touch and the use of apps have promoted autonomy with interest and pleasure to disabled teenagers, allowing them to express themselves actively. In particular, digital art therapy induces a holistic sensory experience by mobilizing visual images that could represent various expressions, emotions felt in music and tactile senses that made texts for people with intellectual disabilities with difficulty in verbal communication.

Discussion

Art therapy using digital media has become an important experience that provides opportunities to arouse curiosity, enjoy creative activities, and express positive emotions vividly to adolescents with intellectual disabilities who have difficulties with expression and communication and a sense of lethargy. Therefore, it is suggested that an in-depth understanding of the characteristics and differences between traditional and digital media is necessary, and that complementary use to help create therapeutic purposes and art therapy is important.

Telemedicine among Adults Living in America during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background and Objectives Telemedicine can expand healthcare access to populations, but relying on technology risks a digital divide. Therefore, it is important to understand who utilizes telemedicine. This study explores telemedicine usage across socio-demographic groups in the United States during COVID-19. Methods Data came from the Household Pulse Survey (HPS) between 14 April 2021, to 11 April 2022. HPS is a rapid online response survey that assesses household experiences during COVID-19. We calculated descriptive statistics and used cross-correlation to test each pair of the time series curves. Results High school graduates used the least telemedicine (20.58%), while those with some college (23.29%) or college graduates (22.61%) had similar levels, and those with less than a high school education fluctuated over time. Black people had higher levels of use (26.31%) than Asians (22.01%). Individuals with disabilities (35.40%) used telemedicine more than individuals without disabilities (20.21%). Individuals 80 years or over (27.63%) used telemedicine more than individuals 18 to 29 years old (18.44%). Cross-correlations for the time series pairs across demographics revealed significant differences in telemedicine use for all demographic groups over time. Conclusions Overall, elderly, Black people, individuals with some college, and persons with disabilities report higher levels of telemedicine use. Telemedicine may improve healthcare access post-pandemic, but more research is needed to understand factors that drive differences among groups.