The outlook of doctors toward telemedicine

Abstract

Background: In an underdeveloped country like India where there are varied constraints in accessing healthcare, telemedicine can prove to be instrumental in providing access to the scant medical resources and infrastructures. The irony lies in its underutilization, which is multifactorial. Objective: The present research was planned to evaluate the level of awareness, knowledge, and attitude toward telemedicine among the faculty members of tertiary-care teaching centers in Chhattisgarh, India. Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to collect appropriate data, which were utilized for analysis as well as various intergroup analyses (among different designations, age groups, sex, and worksite). The data have been presented as median and percentage, while for intergroup comparison Mann-Whitney Test was performed. Results: Among the 115 respondents, only 34% were females. The mean age was around 40.7 years, and 58% were <40 years of age. Their median scores of awareness, knowledge, and attitude were estimated to be 06, 14, and +9, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed in the awareness, knowledge, and attitude among the faculty members belonging to different designations, age groups, and worksites. Conclusions: Though, in general, the faculty members have demonstrated a favorable attitude toward the use of telemedicine yet most of them scored below the median mark. Furthermore, the estimated level of knowledge and awareness was also mediocre.

Knowledge, attitude and perception of optometrists in Trinidad and Tobago towards teleoptometry

“…The low level of knowledge about teleoptometry among the surveyed optometrists can be attributed to several factors which were also evident in this study, including the lack of resources for teleoptometry such as training courses or programs, the fact that teleoptometry is not common in T&T, insufficient information dissemination, and inadequate marketing of platforms to facilitate teleoptometry practice in the region. A similar low level of knowledge about telemedicine has been recorded among other healthcare practitioners in Libya [ 3 ], Pakistan [ 11 ], Saudi Arabia [ 26 ] and India [ 27 ]), suggesting the need for teleoptometry training and increased publicity among health care practitioners, especially in developing countries like T&T. In addition, incorporating teleoptometry training into the optometry program or curriculum of training institutions will help to increase awareness and adoption, and sustained development of the practice.…”

“…During the COVID-19 pandemic, the infection control practices put in place have led to limited accessibility of in-person optometric services, raising the need for teleoptometry services across the globe [ 1 ]. The delivery of eye care services through teleoptometry have become an accepted norm with various guidelines being published for general and sub-specialty eye-care services in different places [ 1 , 26 , 27 ]. Telehealth practice can be influenced by many factors, including the KAP of health practitioners [ 9 , [23] , [24] , [25] ] and as such, this study explored the knowledge, attitude and perception of optometrists in T&T towards the use of teleoptometry.…”

Physician’s knowledge, attitude and practice of fixed drug combinations

“…As no similar study has been performed in the said population earlier, so considering the proportion of KAP for FDC to be 50%, with 95% confidence interval, 10% relative precision, and the total number of physicians working in the hospital to be 225, the sample size calculated was 68. [ 11 ] Based on this, the authors planned to interact and recruit at least 75 physicians (convenient sampling) belonging to different designations i.e . junior resident, senior resident, and faculty.…”

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of fixed-dose combinations amongst attending physicians and residents: a cross-sectional evaluation

“…23 A pivotal finding observed from this survey was that, amongst the list of routinely prescribed FDCs, some were banned or irrational. 18 This observation is not only inconsistent with the respondents’ assertion (checking rationality of FDCs before prescribing) but may augment the adversity of banning of irrational FDCs and their ongoing marketing in the Indian subcontinent. 16 Box 1 highlights some of the irrational FDCs collated from the survey and delineates what makes them irrational.…”

“… b Injection of this combination is banned. 18 c Suspension and injection of this combination is banned. 18 …”