General public’s perspectives on telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea: an analysis of the nationwide survey

A Pilot Study to Evaluate a New Hep-GRP Care Pathway to Improve Outcomes Among Canadian Older Adults with Liver Cirrhosis

Background

Older adults with cirrhosis have complex medical needs that are not satisfied by organ specific management. Interdisciplinary approach may mitigate comorbidity and improve patient satisfaction.

Methods

A pilot study consisted of dual specialist interdisciplinary referral pathway and mixed virtual care delivery model are prospectively evaluated in older adults (65 years and older) with cirrhosis during the COVID-19 pandemic between September and December 2022. Participant attitudes towards telemedicine were surveyed.

Results

68 participants with cirrhosis were consecutively assessed by hepatology. The mean age was 73 years. 39 (57%) screened positive for one or more geriatric syndrome(s). Comprehensive geriatric assessments were conducted via telemedicine in 18 participants, with additional referrals to physiotherapy and nutritional education. Compared to a historic cohort matched for age, sex, and Child-Pugh class, acute health service utilization measured by ER visits among those received dual specialist interdisciplinary consultation were lowered by 1.11 per patient at three-month follow up period (p = .0006, 95% CI 0.47-1.74). Majority participants (87.6%) preferred telemedicine or mixed method visits.

Conclusion

An interdisciplinary approach to older adults with cirrhosis will likely be beneficial, and routine screening for geriatric syndrome may lead to reduced acute health-care utilization in the short term. Telemedicine and virtual screening tools in seniors should be fully explored to improve access to care.

Factors Influencing the Behavioral Intentions and Use Behaviors of Telemedicine in Patients With Diabetes: Web-Based Survey Study

BACKGROUND

Telemedicine has great potential for diabetes management. The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted the development of telemedicine. However, the factors influencing the behavioral intentions to use and use behaviors of telemedicine in patients with diabetes in China are not clear.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to understand the determinants of behavioral intention to use telemedicine based on an extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model and to identify demographic factors associated with telemedicine use in patients with diabetes in China.

METHODS

Patients with diabetes who are aged ≥18 years were surveyed from February 1 to February 7, 2023. We distributed the survey link in 3 WeChat groups including a total of 988 patients with diabetes from the outpatient department or patients discharged from Changsha Central Hospital. Structural equation modeling was used to understand the determinants of behavioral intention. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the demographic factors associated with telemedicine use.

RESULTS

In total, 514 questionnaires were collected. Of the respondents, 186 (36.2%) were diagnosed with COVID-19. The measurement model showed acceptable reliability, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and data fit indices. The model explained 63.8% of the variance in behavioral intention. Social influence, performance expectancy, and facilitating conditions positively influenced behavioral intention (β=.463, P<.001; β=.153, P=.02; and β=.257, P=.004, respectively). Perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and effort expectancy had no significant impact on behavioral intention (all P>.05). The overall use of telemedicine was 20.6% (104/514). After adjusting for the behavioral intention score, the multivariate regression analysis showed that age, education, and family income were associated with telemedicine use. Telemedicine use was higher in the 40 to 59 years and 18 to 39 years age groups than in the ≥60 years age group (odds ratio [OR] 4.35, 95% CI 1.84-10.29, P=.001; OR 9.20, 95% CI 3.40-24.88, P<.001, respectively). Telemedicine use was higher in the senior high school and the university and more groups than in junior high school education and less group (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.05-5.73, P=.04; OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.11-6.23, P=.03, respectively). Patients with a higher family income used telemedicine more often than the patients who had an annual family income ≤¥10,000 (CNY ¥1=US $0.1398; ¥10,000-¥50,000 group: OR 3.90, 95% CI 1.21-12.51, P=.02; ¥50,000-¥100,000 group: OR 3.91, 95% CI 1.19-12.79, P=.02; >¥100,000 group: OR 4.63, 95% CI 1.41-15.27, P=.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Social influence, performance expectancy, and facilitating conditions positively affected the behavioral intention of patients with diabetes to use telemedicine. Young patients, highly educated patients, and patients with high family income use telemedicine more often. Promoting behavioral intention and paying special attention to the needs of older adult patients, patients with low income, and patients with low levels of education are needed to encourage telemedicine use.

A comparison of the characteristics of adult medicine patients seeking telemedicine consultations versus in-person consultations in a Philippine public hospital

Background

Telemedicine employs the use of technology to increase access to health care. This is especially relevant in developing countries where accessibility is an important issue. In developed countries, studies have shown that despite greater availability and accessibility, there are still disparities in telemedicine use. In the Philippines, however, it is unknown what factors are related to telemedicine use since its underutilization precludes proper characterization of telemedicine patients. We sought to compare the characteristics of telemedicine patients and patients consulting in-person in the internal medicine outpatient department of a Philippine public hospital.

Methods

This is a retrospective descriptive study. Chart reviews were done for patients who consulted from May 2021 to July 2021. They were classified as either having telemedicine consults only or having in-person consults only. Each group was characterized and compared according to demographics, socioeconomic characteristics, health behaviors, and reasons for consultation.

Results

Unadjusted analyses showed that younger, single, or employed individuals were more likely to use telemedicine. However, in adjusted analyses, no demographic factors were associated with telemedicine use. Only the patient type and medical concern were significantly different between patient groups in this public hospital setting. New patients and those consulting for clearance/referral purposes or endocrine-related symptoms were more likely to seek teleconsults.

Conclusions

The findings showed which patients are more likely to use telemedicine in the Philippines. Continued telemedicine use for these patients should be explored to complement in-person medical care.