Though telemedicine care may provide more convenient access to physicians, patients are still wary the level of care provided is not comparable to in-person visits, according to a study in Telemedicine journal and e-Health, the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association.
Researchers conducted a statewide survey in Montana to understand patient attitudes toward telemedicine.
They found that 43 percent of patients are "unequivocally averse" to using telemedicine even though it may be more inconvenient than in-person visits. Twenty-nine percent of patients said telemedicine would be "situationally amenable" but still felt uncomfortable using telemedicine, and 23 percent said they would be comfortable using telemedicine if it were convenient, according to the report.
Just 5 percent of patients said they were amenable to telemedicine regardless of circumstance.
"From the patient's perspective, the advantage of reduced travel and convenience are recognized, but questions remain about the equivalence to physician visits," concluded the study authors, which they say indicates a "perceived incompatibility" with patient needs. The authors suggested boosting public awareness of telemedicine could increase patients' willingness to adopt it.
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