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

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  • Samar Helou

    (Global Center for Medical Engineering and Informatics, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan)

  • Elie El Helou

    (Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut 1107 2180, Lebanon)

  • Victoria Abou-Khalil

    (Academic Center for Computing and Media Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8315, Japan)

  • Jad Wakim

    (Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut 1107 2180, Lebanon)

  • Jeanine El Helou

    (Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut 1107 2180, Lebanon)

  • Alain Daher

    (Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut 1107 2180, Lebanon)

  • Charline El Hachem

    (Faculty of Medicine, Saint Joseph University, Beirut 1107 2180, Lebanon)

Abstract

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Samar Helou & Elie El Helou & Victoria Abou-Khalil & Jad Wakim & Jeanine El Helou & Alain Daher & Charline El Hachem, 2020. "The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Physicians’ Use and Perception of Telehealth: The Case of Lebanon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-17, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:13:p:4866-:d:380967
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Josep Vidal-Alaball & Jordi Franch-Parella & Francesc Lopez Seguí & Francesc Garcia Cuyàs & Jacobo Mendioroz Peña, 2019. "Impact of a Telemedicine Program on the Reduction in the Emission of Atmospheric Pollutants and Journeys by Road," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-7, November.
    2. Liezl Van Dyk, 2014. "A Review of Telehealth Service Implementation Frameworks," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-20, January.
    3. Birama Apho Ly & Ronald Labonté & Ivy Lynn Bourgeault & Mbayang Ndiaye Niang, 2017. "The individual and contextual determinants of the use of telemedicine: A descriptive study of the perceptions of Senegal's physicians and telemedicine projects managers," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-18, July.
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