Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University
2
Department of Internal Medicine Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
3
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
4
Department of Nephrology - Medical Insurance Hospital Complex – Tanta, Gharbia, Egypt.
5
Department of Basic Medical and Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Zarqa University, Zarqa, Jordan.
6
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, Egypt
7
Department of infectious diseases, gastroenterology and hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez University, Suez, Egypt
8
Department of internal medicine and nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Port Said University, Port Said, Egypt.
9
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Liver Institute, Menoufia University,
https://doi.org/10.21608/aimj.2025.446589
Abstract
Background: Telemedicine is a newly emerging way in the Egyptian healthcare system, especially after the COVID-19 epidemic; however, understanding its practice and improving its use is critical for sustainability.
Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the current situation of telemedicine practice among physicians working in different Egyptian healthcare facilities and its potential for improvement.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among physicians of different specialties working in various Egyptian healthcare facilities using a constructed questionnaire.
Results: Sixty-two percent of the physicians were telemedicine users, and 39.71% used telemedicine for the first time after COVID-19. Nearly 44% of the physicians reported that it was easy to learn and use telemedicine, and 32.25% revealed that it was easy to interact with the patient while using telemedicine. 33.66% of the physicians reported being satisfied with the telemedicine experience. Nearly three-quarters of the physicians reported many benefits of telemedicine use. The most perceived barriers to telemedicine use were increased liability for medical errors (62.1%), ethical barriers (58.6%), and cultural barriers (55.9%). Concerning the use of telemedicine among different specialties, 66.1%, 58.7 %, and 55.7% of telemedicine users were from the internal medicine specialty, surgical specialty, and other specialties, respectively. Regarding gender, 68.1% of telemedicine users were males (p-value <0.05). In addition, 72.2% of telemedicine users worked in the private health sector (p-value <0.05).
Conclusion: The current situation of telemedicine adoption among Egyptian physicians indicates a significant adoption after COVID-19. Reported barriers to expanding the adoption of telemedicine services included increased liability for medical errors, ethical barriers, and cultural barriers.
Keywords
)
View on SCiNiTO