Increase in Video Consultations During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions about Their Implementation and Adequate Management

Jiménez Rodríguez, Diana; Santillán García, Azucena; Montoro Robles, Jesús; Rodríguez Salvador, María del Mar; Muñoz Ronda, Francisco José; Arrogante Maroto, Óscar

Increase in Video Consultations During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions about Their Implementation and Adequate Management

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Official URL

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17145112

Publication date

2020

Authors

Jiménez Rodríguez, Diana

Santillán García, Azucena

Montoro Robles, Jesús

Rodríguez Salvador, María del Mar

Muñoz Ronda, Francisco José

Arrogante Maroto, Óscar

Publisher

MDPI

Citations

Exportar

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/102583

Citation

Jiménez-Rodríguez D, Santillán García A, Montoro Robles J, Rodríguez Salvador MDM, Muñoz Ronda FJ, Arrogante O. Increase in Video Consultations During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Healthcare Professionals' Perceptions about Their Implementation and Adequate Management. Int J Environ Res Public Health;17(14):5112. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17145112

Abstract

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, health care modalities such as video consultations have been rapidly developed to provide safe health care and to minimize the risk of spread. The purpose of our study is to explore Spanish healthcare professionals’ perceptions about the implementation of video consultations. Based on the testimonies of 53 professionals, different categories emerged related to the four identified themes: benefits of video consultations (for professionals, patients, and the health system, and compared to phone calls), negative aspects (inherent to new technologies and the risk of a perceived distancing from the professional), difficulties associated with the implementation of video consultations (technological difficulties, lack of technical skills and refusal to use video consultation among professionals and patients), and the need for training (technological, nontechnical, and social-emotional skills, and adaptation of technical skills). Additionally, the interviewees indicated that this new modality of health care may be extended to a broader variety of patients and clinical settings. Therefore, since video consultations are becoming more widespread, it would be advisable for health policies and systems to support this modality of health care, promoting their implementation and guaranteeing their operability, equal access and quality.