The Patient Perspective of Telemedicine in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic

Altinisik Ergur G., Nuhoglu S., Cobanoglu C., Sengul M., Eryildiz N., ERGUR A.

Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society, cilt.42, sa.1-2, ss.39-53, 2022 (Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 42 Sayı: 1-2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1177/02704676221094735
  • Dergi Adı: Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Periodicals Index Online, CAB Abstracts, Communication & Mass Media Index, Communication Abstracts, EBSCO Education Source, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, PAIS International, Political Science Complete, Public Affairs Index, Social services abstracts, Sociological abstracts, Worldwide Political Science Abstracts
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.39-53
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: medical sociology, patient perspective, pulmonary medicine, telemedicine, video consultation
  • Galatasaray Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

© The Author(s) 2022.COVID-19 Pandemic might be considered as a catalyst for transformation in healthcare experience via the use of video consultation as a method for telemedicine. The aim of our qualitative study is to understand the patient perception of video consultations in telemedicine, which has been used by a single pulmonologist in only one university hospital in Turkey since the first three months of the pandemic. Research findings are essential when it comes to a more effective and widespread future use of telemedicine, as it focuses on patient experience about a medical technology that is newly introduced. Totally 30 patients were randomly chosen and interviewed who get healthcare support via telemedicine. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to learn the experiences and opinions of the interviewees. The expressions of the patients highlight some advantages of using telemedicine such as being free from risk of contagion caused by exposure in the hospital, being able to save time and money while reaching to the physician online whenever needed, and success in technical details even though they were experiencing it for the first time. A very few of the patients are feeling discomfort to be in front of the screen. Almost all patients are applicants to suggest to other individuals the system they used, in conditions to be appropriate, and continuity after the pandemic period. Since the pandemic has propagated from one patient, the worldwide implementation of telemedicine might be catalyzed by following in the footsteps of the sporadic examples of decisiveness nourished from patient experiences.