The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physicians’ Use and Perception of Telehealth: The Case of Lebanon

Abstract

<jats:p>The COVID-19 pandemic forced physicians to quickly adapt and find ways to provide their usual offline services by using online tools. We aimed to understand how physicians adapted to the sudden need for telehealth and if their perception of telehealth changed due to their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted an exploratory sequential mixed-methods study. We interviewed five Lebanese physicians and thematically analyzed the interviews. We developed a questionnaire based on the analysis results and administered it online to physicians in Lebanon. In total, 140 responses were collected. We found that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians engaged in more telehealth activities in the realms of telemedicine, public awareness, continuing medical education, research, administration, and teaching. They also expanded their repertoire of information-technology tools. Our results also show that there was a significant shift in the physicians’ perceptions, indicating greater openness and willingness to adopt telehealth services. However, a significant amount of skepticism and uncertainty regarding telemedicine remains, especially concerning its efficiency, safety, and the adequacy of existing regulations. Based on our findings, we offer recommendations for health IT policy makers, developers, and researchers, to sustain the continuity of telehealth activities beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.</jats:p>

Awareness and Attitude of Healthcare Workers towards Telehealth in Cairo, Egypt

“…This increase was statistically significant (P= 0.036). This result is similar to a study in Lebanon, who found that the perception of physicians towards telehealth increased from 42% to 74% after the COVID-19 era [15].…”

The Use of New Digital Information and Communication Technologies in Psychological Counseling during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…This phenomenon was observed not only in Portugal but in other countries too, such as the United States, where the provision of at-distance psychological services has been raised from 7.07% to 85.53% [ 62 ]. Additionally, other health services are also adopting the online modalities, namely in medicine [ 63 , 64 ], with the professionals reporting positive perceptions regarding the telehealth services. However, the implementation of ICTs in such a short period of time leads to questions about the conditions under which they were implemented.…”

An international telemedicine program for diagnosis of genetic disorders: Partnership of pediatrician and geneticist

“…The approach in this article promoted efficient utilization of the geneticist's time, enabling focus on more complicated cases, and to provide supervision and support for the pediatric diagnostic team. Previous studies have shown that telemedicine reduces cost and time for both the doctor and the patient during encounters, decreases waiting times, improves disease awareness, creates access to specialty care otherwise not available in country, and increases regional reach and referrals to specialty programs (Helou et al, 2020; Hilgart et al, 2012; Hopper et al, 2011; Otten, Birnie, Ranchor, & van Langen, 2016; Terry et al, 2019). Telemedicine can also provide an effective method for genetic consulting and exchange of professional knowledge in between programs (Vrecar et al, 2017).…”

“…Telemedicine can also provide an effective method for genetic consulting and exchange of professional knowledge in between programs (Vrecar et al, 2017). Furthermore, the large use and acceptance of telehealth services will help to provide care during a pandemia and relieve other social problems, including traffic and pollution (Helou et al, 2020).…”