Introduction: Due to COVID-19, face-to-face human interaction has become a health risk. There is a need to adopt technology to provide alternative means in delivering health care for those who are unable or unwilling to see a doctor in person. Objective: The objective was to determine the baseline knowledge, attitudes, and practices of patients in using telemedicine for primary care consultations at a community-based clinic chain in Pasig City, Metro Manila Methods: The study utilized a multi-center, cross-sectional descriptive design. A 34-item self-administered questionnaire was devised, pilot-tested, and distributed to 242 respondents in 4 clinics in Pasig City from October to November 2020. Results: A total of 242 questionnaires were distributed with 100% response rate. Telemedicine awareness was at 44.6%. There is a favorable attitude towards telemedicine. Only 20.25% had experience in using telemedicine. Among those who had experience with telemedicine, the most used device was the mobile phone (93.4%). The respondents had various resources, with cellphone signal (47.9%) and mobile data (45.9%) being the most common. The respondents prefer phone calls (48-57%) as their primary telemedicine platform followed by video conferencing (36-40%). Conclusion Telemedicine awareness and utility in the surveyed community remain low despite the information and communication technology (ICT) resources available and information drives being conducted. Preliminary data suggest that the majority of the surveyed community is open to the idea of telemedicine. Phone calls and video conferences using mobile phones are the modalities of choice for consultations. A follow up study with a larger sample size and more inclusive sample is recommended
Telemedicine ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread worldwide, causing a pandemic. The Philippines ranks 3rd in Southeast Asia with more than 15,000 confirmed cases, and a case fatality rate of 6.01%, close to the global average of 6.33%. Objective: This clinical pathway was developed to guide family and community physicians on the diagnosis and initial management of COVID-19 in terms of 1) clinical history and physical examination; 2) laboratory and ancillary procedures to be requested; 3) pharmacologic interventions; 4) non-pharmacologic interventions, and 5) patient outcomes to expect. Method: The PAFP Clinical Pathways Group reviewed the published medical literature to identify, summarize, and operationalize the evidence in clinical publication on the management of patients with COVID-19 in family and community practice. Recommendations: The recommendations are time-bound tasks on patient care processes, in terms of history and physical examination, laboratory tests, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. The recommendations are presented as a table and algorithm. Implementation At the clinic level, self-audit using the recommendations of this clinical pathway as the standard may be done. At the organizational level, the PAFP should establish a new model of quality improvement initiative where self-practice audits are included as part of the program.
COVID-19 ; Family Practice