Lights and Shadows of the Perception of the Use of Telemedicine by Romanian Family Doctors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Mira Florea; Cecilia Lazea; Remus Gaga; Genel Sur; Lucia Lotrean; Aida Puia; Ana Maria Alexandra Stanescu; Monica Lupsor-Platon; Horatiu Florea; Maria Lucia Sur

doi:10.2147/IJGM.S309519

Lights and Shadows of the Perception of the Use of Telemedicine by Romanian Family Doctors During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Int J Gen Med. 2021 Apr 29:14:1575-1587. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S309519. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Community Medicine, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
² Department of Pediatrics, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
³ Department of Family Medicine, "carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
⁴ Medical Imaging Department, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
⁵ Computer Science Department, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Abstract

Introduction: Telemedicine has emerged as a critical technology to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aim in this work to explore how general practitioners (GPs) perceived the use of telemedicine, recently recognized and reimbursed by the Public Health Insurance House (PHIH) for primary care (PC) provision.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed in 2020 in one county of Romania using an anonymous questionnaire that assessed physicians' perceptions regarding teleconsultation, reliability in tele-decision, remote pathology management, pregnant women's surveillance, patients' satisfaction with telemedicine, the need for its further reimbursement. Bivariate correlation was used to measure associations between the investigated issues.

Results: More than a quarter of GPs (28.6%) found it easier to address patients' healthcare needs remotely, while 60.7% considered time-consuming teleconsultations compared to face-to-face visits. Tele-diagnostic uncertainty was expressed by 64.3% of physicians, and a quarter were confident in tele-decisions. Almost half of GPs (43%) observed patients' satisfaction with tele-visits, while half said patients encountered difficulties using technology. A large percentage of doctors (62.5%) perceived that patients felt as well treated by virtual as in-person visit and 91.1% suggested post-pandemic reimbursement. The results of the bivariate correlation showed that physicians who perceived positive patient feedback on telemedicine were more supportive of subsequent reimbursement.

Conclusion: This study showed the GPs' positive perception of the use of telemedicine. Its adoption in PC has shed light on the shadows of the pandemic. The time-consuming nature of teleconsultations, uncertainty in tele-decisions, patients' difficulties in using technology were seen as shadows of telecare. However, most of the GPs surveyed agreed with the need for further reimbursement. Future work should focus on innovative solutions for integrating telemedicine as complementary form of PC, the need for telemedicine-based training for GPs to improve capacity building, and patients' perceptions of virtual care, helping to build trust and satisfaction.

Keywords: Covid-19 pandemic; family doctor; perception; primary care; telemedicine.

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.