JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The national "Internet +" policies and the emergency of internet hospitals have created a new direction for the management of pain outside of the hospital. Nevertheless, there are no consolidated studies conducted by pain physicians on the current state of internet hospital-based online medical services used by patients with pain outside of a hospital setting.

Objective:

This retrospective study aims to examine the usage status of internet hospital by patients with pain. Moreover, we will identify the factors that influence patients' decisions to make an online visit through the internet hospital.

Methods:

Detailed information was collected online and offline about pain outpatients at West China Hospital (information technology center) of Sichuan University from February 2020 to April 2022. Binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the determinants that influence patients' decisions to make an online visit based on the internet hospital.

Results:

Over a two-year period, 85,266 pain clinic visits were recorded. Ultimately, 39,260 patients were enrolled for the analysis, with 12.96% (5088/39260) of online visits. Both online and offline clinics had a greater number of women than men. The average age of patients attending the online clinic was 46.85±16.56 (Mean ± standard deviation) whereas the average age of patients attending the offline clinic was 51.48±16.12. The majority of online clinic visitors (3059/5088, 60.12%) were employed. And (2635/5088, 51.79%) of patients who participated in online clinics lived outside the hospital vicinity. Age, working status, and place of residence were associated with patients’ intention to choose online visits through the internet hospital.

Conclusions:

Internet hospitals are flourishing as a more efficient and promising way of pain management and follow-up for patients with pain out-of-hospital. People with pain who are young, working, and non-local are more likely to visit internet hospitals.