JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Telemedicine is a rapidly evolving field that utilizes information and communication technology to provide remote healthcare services, such as diagnosis, treatment, consultation, patient monitoring, and medication delivery. With advancements in technology, telemedicine has become increasingly popular during COVID-19 lockdown and has expanded beyond remote consultations by telephone or video to include comprehensive and reliable services. The integration of telemedicine platforms can enable patients and healthcare providers to communicate more efficiently and effectively.

Objective:

The purpose of this study is to investigate the awareness, knowledge, requirements, and perceptions from the end user perspectives of health care practitioners in Saudi Arabia during the pandemic health crisis.

Methods:

The present study adopted a mixed method design with a quantitative-based cross-sectional designs and qualitative interviews to assess the perception of various health care professionals working in the outpatient’s departments that have a telemedicine system that was utilized during COVID-19 pandemic period. In total, 81 completed questionnaires were used in the current study analysis. In the second phase, the general interviews were conducted to provide a managerial and professional personal view with respect to telemedicine services in their hospitals.

Results:

The study revealed that the majority of participants were familiar with telemedicine technology (82.72%), and a significant proportion (64.2%) believed that continuous training was essential for its effective use. Tthe study also found that consultations (35.94%) and monitoring patients (22.87%) were the major components of telemedicine which were used by health professionals, with telephones being the most commonly used mode of interaction with patients (63.24%). In addition, half of the respondents (54.32%) had concerns about the patient's privacy and confidentiality as one of the major issues. Furthermore, a majority (71.6%) reported the necessity of implementing national standards essential for telemedicine technology in Saudi Arabia. The interviews conducted as part of the study revealed five major themes: culture, barriers and difficulties, communication, implementation, and evaluation. These themes highlighted the importance of a culture of acceptance and flexibility, effective communication, and ongoing evaluation of telemedicine technologies in healthcare systems.

Conclusions:

This study provides important insights into the perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals with telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.