Telemedicine for diseases between primary care physicians on remote islands and specialists in mainland in Japan: a questionnaire survey

VernacularTitle:Telemedicine for diseases between primary care physicians on remote islands and specialists in mainland in Japan: a questionnaire survey
Author: Miki YAMAUCHI ¹ ; Akihisa NAKAMURA ² ; Hiroyuki TERAURA ¹ ; Kazuhiko KOTANI ¹
Author Information

1. Division of Community and Family Medicine, Center for Community Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Japan
2. International Collaborative Research Administration, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Japan
Keywords: primary care; remote medicine; rural clinic; specialist; telehealth
From:Journal of Rural Medicine 2025;20(1):63-65
CountryJapan
Language:en
Abstract: Objective: Primary care physicians on remote islands and specialists in mainland are expected to collaborate using telemedicine. This survey aimed to identify diseases for which primary care physicians on remote islands consider telemedicine necessary.Materials and Methods: A mail survey was conducted at rural public clinics on remote islands. Participants were asked to select diseases for which telemedicine with mainland specialists was necessary.Results: A total of 23 physicians participated in this survey. The most common disease category for telemedicine was psychiatric/psychosomatic diseases, followed by neurological and endocrine/nutrition/metabolic diseases.Conclusion: These data may be useful for the future development of telemedicine involving primary care physicians on remote islands and mainland specialists.