The use of E-health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a case study in China’s Hubei province

Abstract

Globally, the use of e-health has accelerated dramatically during the coronavirus pandemic. Based on both quantitative and qualitative data collected in China's Hubei province (i.e. the first epicentre of COVID-19), this research explores how the pandemic influences the practices of e-health from the perspective of users. Through analysis of 1,033 surveys and 14 in-depth interviews, we find that e-health has played a crucial role in residents' healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Certain external factors influence the choice of digital health, including the high risk of infection outdoors, the shutting down of transport systems, and dysfunctional healthcare facilities that neglect non-COVID-19 patients' clinical demands. Against this backdrop, we argue digital health acts as a functional equivalent to traditional medical treatment and has largely satisfied patients and users in the crisis period. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has unintentionally sped up the diffusion of digital medicine over the long term as respondents expressed their willingness to continue use of e-health in the post-COVID-19 phase. However, we assert that despite the increasing use of e-health, it cannot fully substitute traditional offline treatment. Thus, we suggest a combination of online and offline healthcare will be more commonly practiced in the future.

Measuring online health‐seeking behaviour: Construction and initial validation of a new scale

“…In relation to scale development, it is important to note that the three factors emerged in the initial EFA conducted with general Internet users (pre‐COVID‐19) and in the second EFA conducted with online health group members (during COVID‐19). Thus, despite studies noting the role of the pandemic in the growth of particular types of OHSB (Wang et al., 2021; Webster, 2020), it is clear that all three sub‐scales were also relevant prior to the pandemic. The sub‐scales demonstrated excellent reliability and pave the way for future research.…”

“…For example, patient‐to‐doctor interactions via online consultations are now more common and various factors influence the transition between online to offline medical care (Li et al., 2019; Yoo, Li, & Xu, 2021). OHSB increased during the COVID‐19 pandemic due to patients being unable to visit doctors or for fear of infection (Wang, Sun, Liu, & Lai, 2021; Webster, 2020). OHSB also influences trust and compliance in relation to physicians’ advice and can improve patient outcomes (Lu, Zhang, Wu, Shang, & Liu, 2018; Zhao et al., 2021).…”

Demographic Characteristics and Digital Platforms for Physical Activity Among the Chinese Residents During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mediating Analysis

“…The study results show that 79.52% used E-health apps to avoid going out and minimize the risk of the COVID-19 infection. 47 China’s health code is a unique E-health app used for contact tracing and monitoring under the instructions of the state council’s joint prevention and control mechanism (JPCMSC). 48 …”

Social policy reform driven by crises: Promoting and reshaping social policy during the SARS and COVID‐19 pandemics in China

“…First, online medicine has mushroomed through different platforms and apps such as the Chunyu Doctor, Doctor clove, WeDoctor, etc. Various forms of online diagnosis and treatment have enabled patients to visit doctors or at least ask doctors to prescribe medicine during the lockdown period; this is crucial for the chronically ill, and some Chinese cities started to include e‐healthcare to the general health insurance system since the outbreak of COVID‐19 (Wang et al, 2021 ). Second, various methods and digital tools of artificial intelligence (AI) have been applied to check the health status of people and undertake effective screening of suspected cases of COVID‐19, like the intelligent epidemic robots developed by the Aridamo house.…”