PERCEPTION OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS TOWARDS TELEMEDICINE IN KUCHING, SARAWAK: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
- VernacularTitle:1
- Author:
Su Xu Vin
1
;
Isnani Sutiman
1
;
Sharifah Khadijah Wan Mohamad Suut
1
;
Shareezan Hoklai Sarudu
2
;
Lih Kai Lau
2
;
Maziah Ishak
1
;
Nur Amani Ahmad Tajuddin
3
;
Chun Wai Chan
4
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: Telemedicine; Primary health care; Perception
- From:Malaysian Family Physician 2024;19(1):9-
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
- Abstract: PERCEPTION OF PRIMARY CARE DOCTORS TOWARDS TELEMEDICINE IN KUCHING, SARAWAK: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY:Introduction: Telemedicine is the provision of healthcare remotely via information and communications technology (ICT). is study aimed to assess the familiarity and factors related to the perception towards telemedicine and the willingness to practise telemedicine among primary care doctors. Methods: A multi-centre cross-sectional study was conducted prospectively at all public healthcare clinics across Kuching, Sarawak. A questionnaire was adapted and modi ed from an overseas validated questionnaire, consisting of four parts: demographic data, familiarity towards telemedicine, factors related to the perception of telemedicine and willingness to implement telemedicine. Results: A total of 131 doctors were recruited. Of them, 43.5% had never interacted with patients via email, WhatsApp or Telegram, while 68.7% had never attended any conferences, speeches or meetings regarding telemedicine. e doctors had low familiarity towards guidelines, technology and medical applications of telemedicine. e majority agreed on the ability of telemedicine to save patients’ time and money, the potential of ICT in healthcare and the necessity during a pandemic but perceived the possibility of technical di culties. e doctors who had experience in interacting with patients via email, WhatsApp or Telegram (P=0.001) and those who had ≤8 years of working experience (P=0.04) had a signi cantly better perception towards telemedicine. Conclusion: Although the familiarity towards telemedicine among public primary care doctors is low, their perception is good in a majority of areas. Adequate technological support and continuous education on telemedicine and its guidelines, especially medicolegal issues, are imperative to adopt and propagate telemedicine in primary care.
- Full text:2026101519444232728Perception of primary care doctors.pdf
