AWARENESS AND PERCEPTIONS AMONG PATIENTS ABOUT RECEIVING HEALTHCARE SERVICES THROUGH TELEMEDICINE IN PRIMARY HEALTHCARE CENTERS

Objective: This study used an adaptation of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to explore the interplay of telehealth perceptions and sociodemographic factors with the perceived ease of use (PEoU) and behavioral intention to use telehealth among primary care clients.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted at eight Primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) and two referral centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between May 2021 and July 2021. An online questionnaire was disseminated to collect sociodemographic data, lifestyle and health-related data, levels of communication technology use (LTCU), self- rating of soft skills (SRSS), perception of telemedicine services (PTS, 17 items), PEoU, and behavioral intention to use telemedicine. Scores were calculated on the relevant scales and multivariate stepwise linear regression models were carried out to analyze predictors of PTS, PEoU, and behavioral intention scores.

Result: Four hundred and eleven PHCC visitors have participated, 62.3% were males and mean (SD) age was 35.04 (13.90) years. Overall, telehealth was perceived to have relatively positive impact on 9/17 dimensions of care that were related to patient confidentiality, health expenditure, emergency care and public health issues. SRSS score was the only factor independently associated to PTS score (B=0.96, 95% CI=0.57-1.35; p<0.001), while PTS score was the only significant predictor of PEoU score (B=0.07, 95% CI=0.06-0.07; p<0.001).

Furthermore, both PTS score (B=0.04; 95%CI=0.03-0.05, p<0.001) and PEoU score (B=0.57, 95%CI=0.49- 0.65; p<0.001) were independently associated with behavioral intention score.

Conclusion: Authorities and healthcare providers should implement effective strategies to alleviate the misconceptions about telehealth and enhance the population’s computer self-efficacy to increase effective implementation, optimal utilization, long-term efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of telemedicine in PHCCs.

Keywords: telemedicine, perception, acceptance, primacy care, computer, technology, self-efficacy;