Preferences Towards Electronically Exchanging Digital Images With Healthcare Providers Among US Adults

Abstract

Background: The rapid expansion of telemedicine, including teledermatology, during the COVID-19 pandemic has required both providers and patients alike to adapt to this digital transition. However, patient attitudes towards electronically shared images with their providers are poorly understood. To address this gap, we assessed digital image sharing preferences and associated determinants in a nationally representative sample.Methods: We analyzed pooled data from the Health Information National Trends Survey 4, Cycle 3 and 4. Digital image sharing preferences were compared by patient characteristics and beliefs via chi-square at a significance level of p<0.05, using sampling and jackknife replicate weights to develop nationally representative sample estimates and account for the complex survey design. P-values were adjusted for multiple comparisons when appropriate.Results: Among 6437 adults, 53.5% reported reluctance in electronically shared images and videos with providers. Greater aversion was observed among adults aged 75 or above (70.9%), retired (67.3%), and those with lower education (65.1%), lower annual income (60.9%), limited English proficiency (63.3%), distrust in health information from doctors (75.4%), and fair or poor health (60.4%).Conclusion: Patient hesitancy towards digital image sharing may present challenges for teledermatology adoption. Greater efforts may be needed to address the age and socioeconomic digital divide, multilingual telemedicine tools, and patient-physician dynamics to ensure vulnerable groups receive needed teledermatologic care.

Acceptability, Attitude and Utilization Towards Telemedicine among People of Southern Punjab during COVID19 Pandemic

“…Mean age of the study subjects was 34±22 years. Similar findings were report by Grace et al in US (Wei et al, 2021). This study showed that majority 16 (88.9%) of the patients who sought telemedicine consultation for gynaecology and obstetrics related were satisfied, similar study showed that 76% of telemedicine consults in obstetrics and gynaecology were successful.…”