Telehealth consultations during COVID times - barriers and facilitators: a multi-state exploratory study from India

• DOI: 10.1504/ijmei.2024.138285
• Publication Date: 2024-05-02T11:31:04Z
• Authors: Sree T. Sucharitha; Chakrapani Chatla; Vikhram Ramasubra...; R. Vaishika; S.M. Balaji; R. Pradeep; Aravind Manoharan
• Keywords: Telehealth; Exploratory research; 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak; Exploratory analysis; Pandemic

Globally, COVID-19 has drastically derailed the clinical care for outpatient services. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) used various specially designed telehealth applications (THA) to cater needs of patients. We attempted explore barriers and facilitators in utilising THAs as part a multi-state multi-disciplinary exploratory sequential mixed methods study. Our study comprised initial survey HCPs using quantitative Google Forms Survey tool followed by personal (physical phone-based) interviews 30 selected/consented HCPs. Of 98 responded survey, ~60% had 1-2 consultations/day during pandemic. Approximately 61% consultations were limited < 60 minutes interactions. Less than half obtaining consent only one third maintaining digital log record. Most younger especially women have continued their services through felt that will continue future. Besides limitations generalisability, results suggest enormous scope future towards simplifying processes effective healthcare service delivery at lesser cost time.