Assessment of Knowledge, Perception, and Willingness of using Telemedicine among Medical and Allied Healthcare Students Studying in Private Institutions

Abstract

Introduction: Telemedicine is a developing technology in the Indian healthcare sector. The success of any new technology depends on factors such as knowledge, perception, and willingness of users and professionals to engage it. This study assessed the knowledge, perception, and willingness of healthcare students to use telemedicine.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare students from May 10, 2020 to June 30, 2020 in India. In this study, there were 428 individuals selected using Non-Probability Convenience Sampling and were approached through online Google Forms. The pretested study questionnaire that administered had four parts: demographic details, willingness, perception, and knowledge level. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.

Results: Out of the total study population, 40% were male and 60% were female. Forty-three percentage of the total population reported insufficient knowledge of telemedicine, and 52.1% had insufficient knowledge about its application. However, 90.9% viewed telemedicine as a viable approach, and they were willing to use telemedicine and integrate it in their practice in future. It was determined that perception toward telemedicine influenced willingness for adopting in their careers.

Conclusion: Even though each participant’s knowledge and awareness were limited, the majority of individuals reported positive perception and willingness toward using the telemedicine in their career. Thus, it is essential to build proper and effective communication channels and awareness among students, professionals, and users for telemedicine to succeed in India.