The outlook of doctors toward telemedicine: A cross-sectional study of knowledge, awareness, and attitude in central India

BACKGROUND: In an underdeveloped country like India where there are varied constraints in accessing healthcare, telemedicine can prove to be instrumental in providing access to the scant medical resources and infrastructures. The irony lies in its underutilization, which is multifactorial. OBJECTIVE: The present research was planned to evaluate the level of awareness, knowledge, and attitude toward telemedicine among the faculty members of tertiary-care teaching centers in Chhattisgarh, India. METHODS: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to collect appropriate data, which were utilized for analysis as well as various intergroup analyses (among different designations, age groups, sex, and worksite). The data have been presented as median and percentage, while for intergroup comparison Mann-Whitney Test was performed. RESULTS: Among the 115 respondents, only 34% were females. The mean age was around 40.7 years, and 58% were <40 years of age. Their median scores of awareness, knowledge, and attitude were estimated to be 06, 14, and +9, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed in the awareness, knowledge, and attitude among the faculty members belonging to different designations, age groups, and worksites. CONCLUSIONS: Though, in general, the faculty members have demonstrated a favorable attitude toward the use of telemedicine yet most of them scored below the median mark. Furthermore, the estimated level of knowledge and awareness was also mediocre.