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Ahmed A, Mutahar M, Daghrery AA, Albar NH, Alhadidi IQI, Asiri AM, Boreak N, Alshahrani AAS, Shariff M, Shubayr MA, Al Moaleem MM. A Systematic Review of Publications on Perceptions and Management of Chronic Medical Conditions Using Telemedicine Remote Consultations by Primary Healthcare Professionals April 2020 to December 2021 During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e943383. [PMID: 38341609 PMCID: PMC10868410 DOI: 10.12659/msm.943383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Telemedicine technologies allow distribution of health-related services and information and can include electronic and telecommunication technologies, remote patient and clinician contact, referral and prescribing, patient education, and monitoring. This systematic review aimed to evaluate publications on the perceptions and management of chronic medical conditions using telehealth remote consultations by primary healthcare professionals between April 2020 and December 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Electronic databases, including Cinhal, PubMed, Science Direct, and ProQuest were searched to extract qualitative studies relevant to the topic. Inclusion criteria were developed based on the Population, Exposure, and Outcomes scoping framework. The target population was healthcare professionals working in primary care settings. Included studies encompassed various types of telemedicine, such as synchronous telemedicine, video conferencing, telephone conversations, and smart devices. Eight studies were included. Synchronous telemedicine was highly effective in ensuring the continuity of care and treatment, providing patients with convenience, improved access to treatment, and earlier disease management. Video conferencing and telephone consultations were the most common methods used. Challenges included concerns about patient privacy, technology literacy, and acceptance. Telemedicine was commended for its ability to provide access to immediate expert medical advice and eliminate the need for long-distance travel, contributing to increased patient compliance. Synchronous telemedicine is a promising solution for managing chronic conditions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, offering benefits to patients and healthcare professionals. To maximize its potential, concerns regarding patient privacy, confidentiality, and technology literacy need to be addressed. Proper legislation and regulations are required for long-term success of telemedicine, making it a valuable component of healthcare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arzaq Ahmed
- Faculty of Health, School of Health Sciences, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK
| | - Mahdi Mutahar
- Dental Academy, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Arwa A. Daghrery
- Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nassreen H. Albar
- Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ismail Qasem I. Alhadidi
- General Dentist, Dental Department, Prince Mohammed bin Nasser Hospital, Ministry of Health, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Mohammed Asiri
- Dental Department, Restorative Dental Science, Ministry of Health, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nezar Boreak
- Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Mansoor Shariff
- Prosthetic Department, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mosa A. Shubayr
- Division of Dental Public Health, Preventive Dentistry Department, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed M. Al Moaleem
- Department of Prosthetic Dental Science, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
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Mohamed AH, Ghonim M, Somaili M, Abdelmola A, Haqawi IYA, Shmakhi YMN, Refaei BAI, Refaei EAI, Aburasain AB, Harbi MHA, Harbi RHA, Albasheer O. Patients' perception towards digital health services in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e36389. [PMID: 38115322 PMCID: PMC10727577 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of the widespread use of digital health services (DHS). Despite evidence of the benefits of DHS, there are many barriers to their adaptation worldwide. This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of DHS from the patient perspective. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Jazan region of Saudi Arabia from December 2022 to March 2023. Of the 323 participants who completed the online questionnaire, 63.5% were female, and 55.4% of participants found that DHS was satisfactory. 34% of the participants preferred DHS via telephone calls and 40.2% found that DHS was comparable to direct regular services in building trust between patients and doctors. A total of 79.2% agreed that DHS could reduce unnecessary outpatient visits and 70.9% agreed that it could be used effectively to follow patients with chronic diseases. DHS was found to be cost-effective in 76.8%. Digital healthcare has the potential to significantly improve health care outcomes and effectiveness in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the use of a DHS for monitoring and dispensing care would be advantageous. However, difficulties such as lack of time or a packed schedule have prevented patients in Saudi Arabia from using telemedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal. H. Mohamed
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Manar Ghonim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Somaili
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amani Abdelmola
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Osama Albasheer
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
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Talmesany TA, Alzahrani MA, Alzahrani OM, Alzahrani SA, Al-Omari TK, Alghamdi SM, Alzahrani MA. Assessing the Awareness and Perception of Telemedicine Among the General Population in the Al-Baha Region, Saudi Arabia. Cureus 2023; 15:e49732. [PMID: 38046730 PMCID: PMC10690062 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Telemedicine plays an important role in healthcare by improving the quality of the healthcare system. However, various challenges associated with the effective implementation of telemedicine have been reported. This study aimed to explore the awareness and utilization of telemedicine services among the general population in the Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia and the factors affecting it. Using a cross-sectional design for the study, the quantitative approach was employed through a questionnaire-based survey. Data from 359 participants from the Al-Baha general population were collected, including both males and females over the age of 18. The analysis of the collected data shows a low level of familiarity within the general population; indeed, 54.9% (197) of participants have experienced using telemedicine services. Moreover, the study reveals that the major concerns influencing the use of telemedicine services are limited availability, privacy and security, and quality of care. Almost half of the participants have used telemedicine, and they expressed concerns related to quality of care, privacy and security, limited availability, and technical difficulties. However, telemedicine was positively perceived among the participants. There is a need to raise public awareness about the importance and effectiveness of telemedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terad A Talmesany
- Community and Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha, SAU
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Alqurashi H, Mohammed R, AlGhanmi AS, Alanazi F. The Perception of Health Care Practitioners Regarding Telemedicine During COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia: Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Form Res 2023; 7:e47065. [PMID: 37768720 PMCID: PMC10540916 DOI: 10.2196/47065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telemedicine is a rapidly evolving field that uses information and communication technology to provide remote health care services, such as diagnosis, treatment, consultation, patient monitoring, and medication delivery. With advancements in technology, telemedicine has become increasingly popular during the COVID-19 lockdown and has expanded beyond remote consultations via telephone or video to include comprehensive and reliable services. The integration of telemedicine platforms can enable patients and health care providers to communicate more efficiently and effectively. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the awareness, knowledge, requirements, and perceptions of health care practitioners in Saudi Arabia during the pandemic health crisis from the end-user perspective. The findings of this study will inform policy makers regarding the sustainability of telemedicine and how it affects the process of provision of health care and improves the patients' journey. METHODS This study adopted a mixed methods design with a quantitative-based cross-sectional design and qualitative interviews to assess the perceptions of various health care professionals working in outpatient departments that have a telemedicine system that was used during the COVID-19 pandemic. For both approaches, ethics approval was obtained, and informed consent forms were signed. In total, 81 completed questionnaires were used in this study. In the second phase, general interviews were conducted with managerial staff and health care professionals to obtain their view of telemedicine services in their hospitals. RESULTS The study revealed that most participants (67/81, 83%) were familiar with telemedicine technology, and the study proved to be statistically significant at P<.05 with a proportion of the participants (52/81, 64%) believing that continuous training was essential for its effective use. The study also found that consultations (55/153, 35.9%) and monitoring patients (35/153, 22.9%) were the major components of telemedicine used by health care professionals, with telephones being the most commonly used mode of interaction with patients (74/117, 63.2%). In addition, 54% (44/81) of the respondents expressed concerns about patient privacy and confidentiality, highlighting this as a major issue. Furthermore, the majority of participants (58/81, 72%) reported the necessity of implementing national standards essential for telemedicine technology in Saudi Arabia. The interviews conducted as part of the study revealed 5 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 health care systems. CONCLUSIONS This study provides a crucial message with insights into the perceptions and experiences of health care professionals with telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heba Alqurashi
- Public Health Department, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rafiuddin Mohammed
- Health Informatics Department, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amany Shlyan AlGhanmi
- Health Informatics Department, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Farhan Alanazi
- Health Informatics Department, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Sultan S, Abu Bashar MD, Tabassum A, Iqbal MS, Nomani I, Almasoudi NM, Tayeb M, Munshi GW, Matyuri RK. Prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress and its relationship with knowledge about COVID-19 in medical and laboratory medicine students of Umm-Al-Qura University: a cross-sectional survey. THE EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROSURGERY 2022; 58:160. [DOI: 10.1186/s41983-022-00590-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has continued relentlessly for over one and half years now, causing a threat to life, fear of falling sick, helplessness, anxiety, depression and, pessimism about the future. There has been an increasing concern over student mental health in higher education. Our study was designed to measure current mental health status and its relationship with sociodemographic variables and level of knowledge about COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.
Method
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among laboratory medicine students of Makkah city, Saudi Arabia from October, 2020 to January, 21. A semi-structured questionnaire was circulated through mail and What’s App. Data collected included sociodemographic details and level of knowledge towards the COVID-19 among the students. Depression anxiety and stress-21 item (DASS 21) was used to assess psychological status.
Result
Our study reported 51.4% depressive symptoms, 57.9% anxiety symptoms, and 48.5% stress in the study participants. History of being hospitalized with COVID-19 and ICU reported high anxiety (p = 0.0003) and depression scores (p = 0.04). Respiratory droplet as a mode of transmission revealed higher scores on anxiety subscale (p = 0.007), whereas surface contamination reported high score of stress (p = 0.004) and anxiety (p = 0.002). Knowing that COVID-19 can also clinically present with gastrointestinal symptoms was found to show high stress (p = 0.005) and anxiety (p = 0.01) scores than any other way of clinical presentation.
Conclusion
COVID-19 is likely to cause negative effect on the psychological health of students.
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mHealth App Barriers, Usability, and Personalization: A Cross-Sectional Study from Egypt and Saudi Arabia. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12122038. [PMID: 36556257 PMCID: PMC9786142 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12122038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mobile health (mHealth) has emerged as a substantial segment of eHealth. Herein, we conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate mHealth app barriers, usability, and personalization in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. We used a Google survey to recruit participants from both countries between the 15th of September and the 15th of October 2022. Among 299 participants (247 from Egypt and 52 from Saudi Arabia), aged ≥ 18 years, 27.4% reported mHealth app use. In the age-, sex-, and country-adjusted regression models, age > 25 years: OR (95% CI) = 1.98 (1.11, 3.54), residing in Saudi Arabia: OR (95% CI) = 4.33 (2.22, 8.48), and physical activity: OR (95% CI) = 2.53 (1.44, 4.44) were associated with mHealth app use. The main mHealth app purposes were lifestyle promotion (35.4%), diet and nutrition (30.5%), and administrative services (13.4%). On a scale from 20 to 100, mHealth app usability scores were 46.3% (20−40), 7.3% (41−60), 31.7% (61−80), and 14.7% (81−100). According to 93.9% of users, mHealth app features were modifiable to meet personal health goals, while 37% stated that mHealth apps helped them set new personal health goals. In conclusion, age, residing in Saudi Arabia (compared to Egypt), and physical activity were positively associated with mHealth app use. mHealth app feature personalization and helping users set new personal health goals were largely reported, suggesting that mHealth has the potential to help put personalized healthcare into practice.
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Al-Rayes S, Alumran A, Aljanoubi H, Alkaltham A, Alghamdi M, Aljabri D. Awareness and Use of Virtual Clinics following the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10101893. [PMID: 36292340 PMCID: PMC9601837 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10101893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have shown that virtual clinics enjoyed high use and high patient satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, virtual clinics are expected to be the new normal mode of receiving care after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess public awareness and use of virtual clinics following the pandemic and identify factors associated with virtual clinic use. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed in which data were collected via a structured online questionnaire based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) domains: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and social influence. Participants were selected based on the non-probability sampling of convenience. Univariate, bivariate, and binary logistic regression models were used for analysis. Results: A total of 405 responses were received; of those, 286 (70.6%) were aware of the existence of virtual clinics and 99 (34.6%) were post-pandemic users. Among users, 50% used virtual clinics more than two times, 72% used virtual clinics to seek care for themselves, with the vast majority using it via voice calls (83.8%), and for visits to the family medicine clinic (55%). Young adults, females, single adults, those with a higher level of education, the employed, and those with lower income were more likely to use virtual clinics (p < 0.05). The logistic regression model showed that 20% of the variation in virtual clinic use was explained by perceived usefulness and perceived use (p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study showed high awareness of virtual clinics among the population following the COVID-19 pandemic, with one-third being active users. Age, gender, marital status, education, income, employment status, perceived usefulness, and ease of use are associated with virtual clinics’ awareness and use. Considering those factors is important when planning for sustained use of e-health and virtual care.
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Strengthening the Trialability for the Intention to Use of mHealth Apps Amidst Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19052752. [PMID: 35270445 PMCID: PMC8910131 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Recent advancements in mHealth apps and services have played a vital role in strengthening healthcare services and enabling their accessibility to marginalized people. With the alarming rise in COVID-19 infection rates around the world, there appears to be an urgent call to modernize traditional medical practices to combat the pandemic. This study aims to investigate the key factors influencing the trialability of mHealth apps/services and behavioral intention to adopt mobile health applications. The study also examines the moderating effects of self-discipline motivation, knowledge, and attitude on the relationship between trialability and behavioral intention to use. The deductive reasoning approach was followed in a positivism paradigm. The study used convenience sampling and collected responses from 280 Generation Y participants in Bangladesh. Partial least square-based structural equation modeling was employed. The results revealed that relative advantage (β = 0.229, p < 0.05), compatibility (β = 0.232, p < 0.05), complexity (β = −0.411, p < 0.05), and observability (β = 0.235, p < 0.05) of mHealth apps influence the trialability of mHealth apps and services among users. Trialability compatibility (β = 0.425, p < 0.05) of mHealth was positively related to the behavioral intention to use these mobile apps. The study found no moderating effects of attitude (β = 0.043, p > 0.05) or self-discipline motivation (β = −0.007, p > 0.05) on the hypothesized relationships. The empirical findings of this study may facilitate the development, design process, and implementation of mHealth applications with improved features that can lead to high user acceptance among Generation Y during future health crises.
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The role of the COVID-19 pandemic in expediting digital health-care transformation: Saudi Arabia's experience. INFORMATICS IN MEDICINE UNLOCKED 2022; 33:101097. [PMID: 36185732 PMCID: PMC9509531 DOI: 10.1016/j.imu.2022.101097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive literature review of Research engines was conducted up to March 2022 to retrieve the articles. We considered all published data, press briefings, and announcements by the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia (MOH). The search included both sources in English and Arabic. Thus, this paper aims to give a comprehensive overview of the evolution and role of telemedicine and E-health represented in multiple informatics mobile applications during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. As a component of its subjective drives, the MOH has launched and developed a total of 12 mobile applications from 2012 to 2019, three apps of which were developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. My health "Sehhaty" was the cornerstone of telemedicine services provided by the MOH in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virtually booked physician appointments exceeded 3.8 million. Appointment "Mawid" app number of users sprinted from 4 million to 25 million users and the number of appointments booked in the same app went from 8 million to 100 million appointments in pre-COVID-19 compared to the post-COVID-19 period. Furthermore, the Health 937 hotline numbers grew to 24.6 million calls. The Health "Seha" app provided 2 million remote medical consultations with an almost 8-fold increase compared to pre-COVID-19 times.
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