Background The term “telemedicine” refers to the use of communication technology to deliver health care remotely. The COVID-19 pandemic had substantial impacts on health care delivery from 2020 onward, and it was necessary to adapt high-quality care in a manner that limited the potential for viral exposure of both patients and health care workers. Physicians employed video, phone, and electronic written (e-consultation) visits, all of which provided quality of care comparable to that of face-to-face visits while reducing barriers of adopting telemedicine. Objective This study sought to assess physicians’ perspectives and attitudes regarding the use of telemedicine in Riyadh hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main objects of assessment were as follows: (1) physicians’ experience using telemedicine, (2) physicians’ willingness to use telemedicine in the future, (3) physicians’ perceptions of patient experiences, and (4) the influence of telemedicine on burnout. Methods This study employed SurveyMonkey to develop and distribute an anonymous 28-question cross-sectional survey among physicians across all specialty disciplines in Riyadh hospitals. A chi-square test was used to determine the level of association between variables, with significance set to P<.05. Results The survey was distributed among 500 physicians who experienced telemedicine between October 2021 and December 2021. A total of 362 doctors were included, of whom 28.7% (n=104) were consultants, 30.4% (n=110) were specialists, and 40.9% (n=148) were residents. Male doctors formed the majority 56.1% (n=203), and female doctors accounted for 43.9% (n=159). Overall, 34% (n=228) agreed or somewhat agreed that the “quality of care during telemedicine is comparable with that of face-to-face visits.” Approximately 70% (n=254) believed that telemedicine consultation is cost-effective. Regarding burnout, 4.1% (n=15), 7.5% (n=27), and 27.3% (n=99) of the doctors reported feeling burnout every day, a few times a week, and a few times per month, respectively. Conclusions The physicians had generally favorable attitudes toward telemedicine, believing that its quality of health care delivery is comparable to that of in-person care. However, further research is necessary to determine how physicians’ attitudes toward telemedicine have changed since the pandemic and how this virtual technology can be used to improve physicians’ professional and personal well-being.

BACKGROUND The use of communication technologies to deliver health care remotely is known as telemedicine. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a variety of consequences for health-care delivery in 2020. As a result, it was necessary to adapt and deliver high-quality care to patients while limiting possible viral exposure for both patients and health-care workers. During the pandemic, physicians employed video visits, phone visits, and electronic written visits (e-consultations), all of which have the ability to provide a comparable quality of care while removing social barriers. OBJECTIVE The study’s aim is to assess physicians’ perspectives and attitudes concerning the usage of telemedicine in Riyadh hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main domains of the assessment are physicians’ overall experience with telemedicine use before and during COVID-19, future adaptability to using telemedicine, perceptions about patients’ experience, and the influence of telemedicine on burnout. METHODS Methods: An anonymous 28-question cross-sectional survey was developed using SurveyMonkey and distributed to all physicians from all specialty disciplines across Riyadh city hospitals. RESULTS A total of 362 doctors were included in the study. Among them, 28.7% were consultants, 30.4% were specialists, and 40.9% were residents. Male doctors formed the majority (56.1%). When asked about the frequency of using telemedicine, 41.4% answered “frequently,” 26% responded “occasionally,” and 32.6% said “never.” Thirty one percent of doctors agreed and somewhat agreed that the “quality of care during telemedicine is comparable with face-to-face visits.” About 55% doctors believed that telemedicine consultation is a cost-effective way, compared to face-to-face visits. Most of the doctors were skilled (70%) at telemedicine, and they were also able to solve technology issues during telemedicine visits (54%). Overall, the physicians felt that their patients liked telemedicine: 68% said they felt comfortable using telemedicine and 76% said theyfound that it saved time. As per the burnout question, 4.1% of doctors felt burnout every day, 7.5% felt burnout a few times a week, and 27.3% felt burnout a few times per month. CONCLUSIONS Physicians had a generally favorable attitude toward telemedicine, believing that the quality of health-care delivery using it was comparable to that of in-person care. Future research is needed to investigate how physicians’ attitudes toward telemedicine have changed since the pandemic, as well as how this virtual technology might be used to improve their professional and personal well-being.