G-4046

Survey of the knowledge and attitude of healthcare staff in hospitals and comprehensive health service centers affiliated with Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in 1403-1404 towards telemedicine and its barriers

Amirhossein Aghaei ¹ ℗, Elham Khanlarzadeh ² ©, Alireza Hashemi-Shahraki ³, Sepehr Sarayvand ¹, Alireza Hasanzadeh-Soureshjani ³, Reza Ahmadi-Dehkohneh ³, Mehdi Ghanbari-Kohyani ³   

 
Abstract

Introduction: The rapid advancement of information technology has had profound effects on the health systems of developing countries. In response to the increasing demand for health services, telemedicine has been proposed as a solution to improve access, efficiency and quality of healthcare. However, the implementation of this technology in developing countries faces challenges. The present study aimed to assess barriers and the level of awareness, attitude and readiness of healthcare staff towards telemedicine. Methods and Materials: This descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted in 1403-1404 with the ethics code IR.UMSHA.REC.1403.861, in six teaching-therapeutic hospitals and health service centers in Hamadan city. Sampling was carried out and 332 out of 360 medical staff completed the questionnaire. Data was collected using valid and reliable questionnaires containing demographic information, knowledge (15 questions), attitude (30 questions), application areas, and barriers to telemedicine. Cronbach's alpha for different parts of the questionnaire was reported to be higher than 0.88. Results: Most of the participants were female (67.5%), had a bachelor's degree (56%), and were physicians (29.8%). The average age was 31.84 years, and the work experience was 7.96 years. The average awareness of telemedicine was 41.4 out of 75. The highest level of awareness was related to the Children's Hospital and the lowest was related to Sina and Beheshti hospital. The average attitude towards telemedicine was assessed as 101.4 out of 150. A more positive attitude was seen in the staff of the Women's Hospital and a more negative one in the health centers. The prominent applications of telemedicine included preventive services, patient follow-up, and video consultation. The main barriers included the lack of infrastructure and lack of access to high-speed internet. There was an inverse (but non-significant) relationship between age and awareness and attitude. There was no significant difference between gender, education, occupation, and type of employment with awareness and attitude. The place of work was the only significant variable that affected awareness and attitude. Conclusion and Discussion: The findings of this study showed that the level of awareness and attitude of healthcare staff towards telemedicine is moderate. Despite the increasing need for telemedicine services, there is still a lack of sufficient awareness and a widespread positive attitude among staff. No significant difference was observed between awareness and attitude with demographic variables; however, a trend towards a more positive attitude was observed among younger individuals. The results of this study indicate that for the effective development of telemedicine, there is a need for extensive training, strengthening of infrastructure, and supportive policymaking. The findings can be a basis for the design of programs to promote awareness and adoption of technology in the country's health system.

Keywords: Telemedicine, Attitude, Awareness, Application, Barriers