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Alotaibi HF, Ghazi SS, Asraf NO, Al Asmari ZS. Patients' perceptions of telehealth video visits experience in primary healthcare setting, Saudi Arabia. J Family Med Prim Care 2023; 12:2676-2684. [PMID: 38186832 PMCID: PMC10771180 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2269_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The widespread utilization of telehealth recently in Saudi Arabia is unprepared and may have a remarkable adverse effect on healthcare delivery. The study aimed to investigate attitude, satisfaction, and barriers of telehealth application among patients. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at primary healthcare centers during the period of December 2021-January 2022. All Saudi patients (≥18 years) who were treated through telehealth programs in specialized polyclinic were eligible for study inclusion. A self-administered questionnaire was utilized and consists of four main parts: personal information, history of using telehealth, assessment of satisfaction with telehealth program, and attitude toward telemedicine. Results A total of 641 participants were included. Females represented 57.3% of them. A majority (82.7%) of patients were satisfied with telemedicine services. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that Bachelor/postgraduates were more likely to be satisfied with telemedicine services (P < 0.001), whereas patients reported no appointment slot in the clinic were less likely to be satisfied with telemedicine services (P = 0.042). A majority of patients (84.1%) expressed positive attitude toward telemedicine services. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that older patients (P = 0.002) and widowed (P = 0.001) were less likely to have positive attitude toward utilization of telemedicine services, whereas Bachelor/postgraduates (P = 0.038) and patients with more than this time were more likely to have positive attitude toward telemedicine services (P = 0.001). Conclusion Patients were overall satisfied and expressed positive attitude concerning the service of telemedicine consultation. However, more in-depth investigation is recommended to better understand the predictors of satisfaction with telemedicine and barriers for its proper application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan F. Alotaibi
- Consultant Family Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah-SPC-PHC, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Sultan S. Ghazi
- Consultant Family Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, ISKAN Jeddah- PHC, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Nisreen O. Asraf
- Consultant Family Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Specialized Polyclinic, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Zahra S. Al Asmari
- Pharmacist, King Abdulaziz Medical City, NGHA-PHC-SPC, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Cummins MR, Ong T, Ivanova J, Barrera JF, Wilczewski H, Soni H, Welch BM, Bunnell BE. Consensus Guidelines for Teledermatology: Scoping Review. JMIR DERMATOLOGY 2023; 6:e46121. [PMID: 37632944 PMCID: PMC10335147 DOI: 10.2196/46121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Consensus guidelines and recommendations play an important role in fostering quality, safety, and best practices, as they represent an expert interpretation of the biomedical literature and its application to practice. However, it is unclear whether the recent collective experience of implementing telemedicine and the concurrent growth in the evidence base for teledermatology have resulted in more robust guidance. OBJECTIVE The objective of this review was to describe the extent and nature of currently available guidance, defined as consensus guidelines and recommendations available for telemedicine in dermatology, with guidance defined as consensus or evidence-based guidelines, protocols, or recommendations. METHODS We conducted a single-reviewer scoping review of the literature to assess the extent and nature of available guidance, consensus guidelines, or recommendations related to teledermatology. We limited the review to published material in English since 2013, reflecting approximately the past 10 years. We conducted the review in November and December of the year 2022. RESULTS We identified 839 potentially eligible publications, with 9 additional records identified through organizational websites. A total of 15 publications met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The guidelines focused on varied topics and populations about dermatology and skin diseases. However, the most frequent focus was general dermatology (8/15, 53%). Approximately half of the telemedicine guidance described in the publications was specific to dermatology practice in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The publications were largely published in or after the year 2020 (13/15, 87%). Geographical origin spanned several different nations, including Australia, the United States, European countries, and India. CONCLUSIONS We found an increase in COVID-19-specific teledermatology guidance during 2020, in addition to general teledermatology guidance during the period of the study. Primary sources of general teledermatology guidance reported in the biomedical literature are the University of Queensland's Centre for Online Health and Australasian College of Dermatologists E-Health Committee, and the American Telemedicine Association. There is strong evidence of international engagement and interest. Despite the recent increase in research reports related to telemedicine, there is a relative lack of new guidance based on COVID-19 lessons and innovations. There is a need to review recent evidence and update existing recommendations. Additionally, there is a need for guidance that addresses emerging technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mollie R Cummins
- College of Nursing, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
- Doxy.me, Inc, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Triton Ong
- Doxy.me, Inc, Rochester, NY, United States
| | | | - Janelle F Barrera
- Doxy.me, Inc, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
| | | | - Hiral Soni
- Doxy.me, Inc, Rochester, NY, United States
| | - Brandon M Welch
- Doxy.me, Inc, Rochester, NY, United States
- Biomedical Informatics Center, Public Health and Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Brian E Bunnell
- Doxy.me, Inc, Rochester, NY, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
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