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Attitudes, Barriers, and Concerns Regarding Telemedicine Among Swedish Primary Care Physicians : A Qualitative Study

Glock, Hanna LU ; Milos Nymberg, Veronica LU orcid ; Borgström Bolmsjö, Beata LU ; Holm, Jonas LU ; Calling, Susanna LU ; Wolff, Moa LU and Pikkemaat, Miriam LU orcid (2021) In International Journal of General Medicine 14. p.9237-9246
Abstract

PURPOSE: The primary care physician's traditional patient contacts are challenged by the rapidly accelerating digital transformation. In a quantitative survey analysis based on the theory of planned behavior, we found high behavioral intention to use telemedicine among Swedish primary care physicians, but low reported use. The aim of this study was to further examine the physicians' experiences regarding telemedicine, with a focus on possible explanations for the gap between intention and use, through analysis of the free-text comments supplied in the survey.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material was collected through a web-based survey which was sent out to physicians at 160 primary health care centers in southern Sweden from May to... (More)

PURPOSE: The primary care physician's traditional patient contacts are challenged by the rapidly accelerating digital transformation. In a quantitative survey analysis based on the theory of planned behavior, we found high behavioral intention to use telemedicine among Swedish primary care physicians, but low reported use. The aim of this study was to further examine the physicians' experiences regarding telemedicine, with a focus on possible explanations for the gap between intention and use, through analysis of the free-text comments supplied in the survey.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material was collected through a web-based survey which was sent out to physicians at 160 primary health care centers in southern Sweden from May to August 2019. The survey covered four areas: general experiences of telemedicine, digital contacts, chronic disease monitoring with digital tools, and artificial intelligence. A total of 100 physicians submitted one or more free-text comments. These were analyzed using qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach.

RESULTS: The primary care physicians expressed attitudes towards telemedicine that focused on clinical usefulness. Barriers to use were the loss of personal contact with patients and a deficient technological infrastructure. The major concerns were that these factors would result in patient harm and an increased workload. The connection between intention and use postulated by the theory of planned behavior was not applicable in this context, as external factors in the form of availability and clinical usefulness of the specific technology were major impediments to use despite a generally positive attitude.

CONCLUSION: All telemedicine tools must be evaluated regarding clinical usefulness, patient safety, and effects on staff workload, and end users should be included in this process. Utmost consideration is needed regarding how to retain the benefits of personal contact between patient and provider when digital solutions are introduced.

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author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
International Journal of General Medicine
volume
14
pages
9237 - 9246
publisher
Dove Medical Press Ltd.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85120755672
  • pmid:34880663
ISSN
1178-7074
DOI
10.2147/IJGM.S334782
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© 2021 Glock et al.
id
f59462be-1b45-4c43-8bb9-351fed4b80a3
date added to LUP
2023-12-18 15:17:49
date last changed
2024-11-14 13:36:35
@article{f59462be-1b45-4c43-8bb9-351fed4b80a3,
  abstract     = {{<p>PURPOSE: The primary care physician's traditional patient contacts are challenged by the rapidly accelerating digital transformation. In a quantitative survey analysis based on the theory of planned behavior, we found high behavioral intention to use telemedicine among Swedish primary care physicians, but low reported use. The aim of this study was to further examine the physicians' experiences regarding telemedicine, with a focus on possible explanations for the gap between intention and use, through analysis of the free-text comments supplied in the survey.</p><p>MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material was collected through a web-based survey which was sent out to physicians at 160 primary health care centers in southern Sweden from May to August 2019. The survey covered four areas: general experiences of telemedicine, digital contacts, chronic disease monitoring with digital tools, and artificial intelligence. A total of 100 physicians submitted one or more free-text comments. These were analyzed using qualitative content analysis with an inductive approach.</p><p>RESULTS: The primary care physicians expressed attitudes towards telemedicine that focused on clinical usefulness. Barriers to use were the loss of personal contact with patients and a deficient technological infrastructure. The major concerns were that these factors would result in patient harm and an increased workload. The connection between intention and use postulated by the theory of planned behavior was not applicable in this context, as external factors in the form of availability and clinical usefulness of the specific technology were major impediments to use despite a generally positive attitude.</p><p>CONCLUSION: All telemedicine tools must be evaluated regarding clinical usefulness, patient safety, and effects on staff workload, and end users should be included in this process. Utmost consideration is needed regarding how to retain the benefits of personal contact between patient and provider when digital solutions are introduced.</p>}},
  author       = {{Glock, Hanna and Milos Nymberg, Veronica and Borgström Bolmsjö, Beata and Holm, Jonas and Calling, Susanna and Wolff, Moa and Pikkemaat, Miriam}},
  issn         = {{1178-7074}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{9237--9246}},
  publisher    = {{Dove Medical Press Ltd.}},
  series       = {{International Journal of General Medicine}},
  title        = {{Attitudes, Barriers, and Concerns Regarding Telemedicine Among Swedish Primary Care Physicians : A Qualitative Study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S334782}},
  doi          = {{10.2147/IJGM.S334782}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}