Attitudes, Awareness, and Willingness of Iranians Toward Using Telemedicine in Post‐COVID Era: A Cross‐Sectional Study
ABSTRACT Background and Aims With the increased use of telemedicine during the pandemic, understanding patients' attitudes and readiness to adopt telemedicine is crucial. This study investigates the attitudes, willingness, and usage behaviors of Iranian patients toward telemedicine. Methods Thi...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Health Science Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70321 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832583149036503040 |
|---|---|
| author | Marsa Gholamzadeh Hamidreza Abtahi Reza Safdari Elham Haghshenas Mehrnaz Asadi Gharabaghi Besharat Rahimi |
| author_facet | Marsa Gholamzadeh Hamidreza Abtahi Reza Safdari Elham Haghshenas Mehrnaz Asadi Gharabaghi Besharat Rahimi |
| author_sort | Marsa Gholamzadeh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Background and Aims With the increased use of telemedicine during the pandemic, understanding patients' attitudes and readiness to adopt telemedicine is crucial. This study investigates the attitudes, willingness, and usage behaviors of Iranian patients toward telemedicine. Methods This cross‐sectional study took place in Iran from October 2021 to January 2023. Participants received a web‐based questionnaire consisting of five sections. The study aimed to assess Iranians' attitudes toward telemedicine following the COVID‐19 pandemic and their readiness to utilize telemedicine services in the post‐pandemic period by analyzing the gathered data. Results A total of 569 Iranian patients participated in the questionnaire, resulting in a 95% response rate. While 80% of respondents were familiar with telemedicine terms, only 30% had utilized telemedicine services before the COVID‐19 outbreak. Overall, Iranians displayed positive attitudes toward telemedicine, with over two‐thirds expressing a strong willingness to continue using telemedicine post‐pandemic. The analysis revealed a positive correlation between higher e‐health literacy scores and favorable attitudes toward telemedicine. Additionally, a significant relationship was observed between having a positive attitude toward telemedicine and prior usage of telemedicine services before the pandemic. Conclusion The findings indicated a positive attitude toward telemedicine among public patients. The results highlight a willingness to utilize remote medical services if the required infrastructure is in place to address trust issues among patients. These outcomes can be utilized to assess the feasibility of implementing telemedicine services in Iran. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-379055a3734e4714a28210d3b423827e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2398-8835 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Science Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-379055a3734e4714a28210d3b423827e2025-01-29T03:42:40ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352025-01-0181n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.70321Attitudes, Awareness, and Willingness of Iranians Toward Using Telemedicine in Post‐COVID Era: A Cross‐Sectional StudyMarsa Gholamzadeh0Hamidreza Abtahi1Reza Safdari2Elham Haghshenas3Mehrnaz Asadi Gharabaghi4Besharat Rahimi5Health Information Management and Medical Informatics Department, School of Allied Medical Sciences Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran IranPulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Department, Thoracic Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran IranHealth Information Management and Medical Informatics Department, School of Allied Medical Sciences Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran IranHealth Care Management Department, School of Health Management and Information Sciences Iran University of Medical Sciences Tehran IranDepartment of Pulmonary Medicine, School of Medicine Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran IranPulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Department, Thoracic Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran IranABSTRACT Background and Aims With the increased use of telemedicine during the pandemic, understanding patients' attitudes and readiness to adopt telemedicine is crucial. This study investigates the attitudes, willingness, and usage behaviors of Iranian patients toward telemedicine. Methods This cross‐sectional study took place in Iran from October 2021 to January 2023. Participants received a web‐based questionnaire consisting of five sections. The study aimed to assess Iranians' attitudes toward telemedicine following the COVID‐19 pandemic and their readiness to utilize telemedicine services in the post‐pandemic period by analyzing the gathered data. Results A total of 569 Iranian patients participated in the questionnaire, resulting in a 95% response rate. While 80% of respondents were familiar with telemedicine terms, only 30% had utilized telemedicine services before the COVID‐19 outbreak. Overall, Iranians displayed positive attitudes toward telemedicine, with over two‐thirds expressing a strong willingness to continue using telemedicine post‐pandemic. The analysis revealed a positive correlation between higher e‐health literacy scores and favorable attitudes toward telemedicine. Additionally, a significant relationship was observed between having a positive attitude toward telemedicine and prior usage of telemedicine services before the pandemic. Conclusion The findings indicated a positive attitude toward telemedicine among public patients. The results highlight a willingness to utilize remote medical services if the required infrastructure is in place to address trust issues among patients. These outcomes can be utilized to assess the feasibility of implementing telemedicine services in Iran.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70321attitudeCOVID‐19delivery of healthcaredigital healthtelemedicine |
| spellingShingle | Marsa Gholamzadeh Hamidreza Abtahi Reza Safdari Elham Haghshenas Mehrnaz Asadi Gharabaghi Besharat Rahimi Attitudes, Awareness, and Willingness of Iranians Toward Using Telemedicine in Post‐COVID Era: A Cross‐Sectional Study Health Science Reports attitude COVID‐19 delivery of healthcare digital health telemedicine |
| title | Attitudes, Awareness, and Willingness of Iranians Toward Using Telemedicine in Post‐COVID Era: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_full | Attitudes, Awareness, and Willingness of Iranians Toward Using Telemedicine in Post‐COVID Era: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Attitudes, Awareness, and Willingness of Iranians Toward Using Telemedicine in Post‐COVID Era: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attitudes, Awareness, and Willingness of Iranians Toward Using Telemedicine in Post‐COVID Era: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_short | Attitudes, Awareness, and Willingness of Iranians Toward Using Telemedicine in Post‐COVID Era: A Cross‐Sectional Study |
| title_sort | attitudes awareness and willingness of iranians toward using telemedicine in post covid era a cross sectional study |
| topic | attitude COVID‐19 delivery of healthcare digital health telemedicine |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.70321 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marsagholamzadeh attitudesawarenessandwillingnessofiranianstowardusingtelemedicineinpostcovideraacrosssectionalstudy AT hamidrezaabtahi attitudesawarenessandwillingnessofiranianstowardusingtelemedicineinpostcovideraacrosssectionalstudy AT rezasafdari attitudesawarenessandwillingnessofiranianstowardusingtelemedicineinpostcovideraacrosssectionalstudy AT elhamhaghshenas attitudesawarenessandwillingnessofiranianstowardusingtelemedicineinpostcovideraacrosssectionalstudy AT mehrnazasadigharabaghi attitudesawarenessandwillingnessofiranianstowardusingtelemedicineinpostcovideraacrosssectionalstudy AT besharatrahimi attitudesawarenessandwillingnessofiranianstowardusingtelemedicineinpostcovideraacrosssectionalstudy |