Telemedicine in Urology Practice in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Authors

  • Anbumathi Suriyamoorthy, MBBS Multi Organ Harvesting Aid Network, Chennai, India https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8141-2786
  • Sunil Shroff, MS, FRCS (UK) D UROL (LONDON) Senior Consultant Urologist and Transplant Surgeon, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai, India
  • Ciba Vaitheeshwari Baskaran, MBBS Senior Consultant Urologist and Transplant Surgeon, Madras Medical Mission, Chennai, India https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8589-9856
  • Sanaa Bhadwal, BDS, MBA Multi Organ Harvesting Aid Network, Chennai, India https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8004-4610

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30953/thmt.v10.580

Keywords:

Barriers, COVID-19, India, urinary tract infection, urologist

Abstract

Objective:
To assess the patterns of usage, perceptions, and barriers related to telemedicine among urologists in India during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore the level of awareness and need for training regarding telemedicine among practising urologists.

Design:
Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Methodology:
An online structured questionnaire was developed and distributed electronically to a cohort of urologists across India. The questionnaire collected information on demographics, telemedicine utilisation, awareness of national guidelines, barriers to adoption, and preferred training formats.

Setting:
Nationwide survey conducted through professional mailing lists and urological societies in India.

Participants:
A total of 132 practising urologists responded out of approximately 2,000 invited participants.

Interventions:
No clinical interventions were involved. Data were collected through a voluntary, anonymous online survey. Main outcome measures were rates of telemedicine adoption, levels of awareness regarding telemedicine guidelines, perceived barriers to telemedicine adoption, and preferences regarding training methods for telemedicine practice

Results:
Among the respondents, 53 percent reported not currently using telemedicine in their practice. The principal barriers to adoption were fear of medico-legal liability, uncertainty regarding remuneration, and increased time commitment. Approximately 74 percent of respondents were aware of the Government of India’s telemedicine guidelines. Telemedicine was perceived as most suitable for counselling and patient education, as well as for post-treatment follow-up, but not for management of post-treatment complications. A significant proportion of urologists indicated a lack of formal training in telemedicine and expressed a preference for structured learning platforms and live online sessions with experts.

Conclusions:
There is good awareness among Indian urologists regarding the benefits of telemedicine. However, adoption remains limited due to medico-legal concerns and financial uncertainties. Addressing these barriers through appropriate legal frameworks, structured training programmes, and financial models could facilitate wider integration of telemedicine into routine urology practice in India.

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Published

2025-06-30

How to Cite

Suriyamoorthy, A., Shroff, D. S. ., Baskaran, C. V. ., & Bhadwal, S. . (2025). Telemedicine in Urology Practice in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Telehealth and Medicine Today, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.30953/thmt.v10.580

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 2 (2025): Telehealth and Medicine Today

Section

Original Clinical Research

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Anbumathi Suriyamoorthy, MBBS, Sunil Shroff, MS, FRCS (UK) D UROL (LONDON), Ciba Vaitheeshwari Baskaran, MBBS, Sanaa Bhadwal, BDS, MBA

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THMT is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.