Telemedicine Consultations Among Healthcare Providers and Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review Article - IJBMC Journals
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REVIEW OF ADVANCED
MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE,
ENGINEERING & INNOVATION (RAMSEY)
Telemedicine Consultations Among Healthcare
Providers and Patients During the COVID-19
Pandemic: A Review Article
Pongsakorn Limna 1, Sutithep Siripipattanakul 2 , Tamonwan Sitthipon 3,
Parichat Jaipong 4, Pichakoon Auttawechasakoon 5
UNITAR International University, Malaysia 1
Kasetsart University, Thailand 2 City University, Malaysia 3
Manipal GlobalNxt University, Malaysia 4 Burapha University, Thailand 5
palmlimna@gmail.com (Corresponding Author) 1 fedustt@ku.ac.th 2
tamonwan.f@gmail.com 3 iam.parichatt@gmail.com 4 pichchakun4997@gmail.com 5
ABSTRACT
Telemedicine or telehealth technology is the practice of providing health care and exchanging
health-related data across geographical boundaries. It is not a new or unique field of medicine.
Telemedicine episodes can be classified by the following characteristics: (1) the nature of the
interactions between patients and experts (live or prerecorded); and (2) the type of information
transmitted (e.g. text, audio, video). By contrast, most telemedicine is now practised in
developed countries. Additionally, interest in telemedicine is growing in developing countries
as the public becomes more adept at utilising novel technologies in daily life. Evolving health
care applications are reshaping when, where, and how patients and physicians interact. Thus,
this review article aims to discuss the usage of telemedicine or telehealth technology for
consultations between healthcare providers and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keywords: telehealth, telemedicine, healthcare providers, patients, COVID-19
1. INTRODUCTION
The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) outbreak is a global public health emergency.
Telehealth is an effective method of combating the COVID-19 outbreak. The role of telehealth
services is dominant in preventing, diagnosing, treating, and controlling the COVID-19
pandemic (Monaghesh et al., 2020). The COVID-19 pandemic has altered how medical care
is delivered to protect health workers while managing available resources. Patient and
healthcare worker safety is critical and has become a point of contention as the world adjusts
to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, it is necessary to consider novel methods of providing
medical care. Telehealth and digital health care are medical care provisions via information
communication technology (ICT) and high-speed telecommunications systems (Anthony,
2021). Businesses, social and religious gatherings, travel, and nearly all modes of
RAMSEY Vol. 1 (1), No. 3, 2022 1-8REVIEW OF ADVANCED MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE, ENGINEERING & INNOVATION (RAMSEY) transportation were suspended to halt the spread of COVID-19. People have been ordered to quarantine themselves, and the world appears to break. While quarantined, individuals with acute and chronic illnesses continue to require medical care and treatment. Telehealth and technology are becoming increasingly popular to provide medical care services and can be used to prevent infections during quarantine and social distancing practices (Andrews et al., 2020; Anthony, 2021). Innovation in information technology fundamentally alters patients' perceptions of time and distance. Innovation in information technology fundamentally changes patients' perceptions of time and distance. The public has become more adept at utilising novel technologies in daily life, and evolving health care applications are reshaping when, where and how patients and physicians interact (Chaet et al., 2017). Thus, the telemedicine or telehealth technology used for consultations among healthcare providers and patients is crucial to discuss during the COVID-19 pandemic. The interactions and relationships with others in telemedicine engagement are increased. 2. LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1. The COVID-19 Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global health crisis on a massive scale. Because the situation necessitates widespread behaviour change and places significant psychological strain on individuals, insights from the social and behavioural sciences can assist in aligning human behaviour with epidemiologists' and public health experts' recommendations (Bavel et al., 2020). COVID-19 is now a global pandemic due to its high transmissibility and lack of an effective vaccine or therapy. Across the globe, government-coordinated efforts have concentrated on containment and mitigation, with varying degrees of success. Countries with low COVID-19 per capita mortality rates appear to use strategies, including early surveillance, testing, contact tracing, and strict quarantine (Whitelaw et al., 2020). Public health emergencies can harm the health, safety, and well-being of both individuals and communities (causing insecurity, confusion, emotional isolation, and stigma, for example) (owing to economic loss, work and school closures, inadequate resources for medical response, and deficient distribution of necessities). Due to social distancing norms and nationwide lockdowns, the Covid-19 pandemic has inevitably increased the use of digital technologies. Worldwide, individuals and organisations have had to adapt to new modes of work and life. The possible scenarios for the digital revolution and the associated issues were demonstrated (Pandey & Pal, 2020). The technology could assist healthcare providers in consultations on health-related physical and psychosocial problems among healthcare providers and patients (Greenberg et al., 2020). Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic challenges healthcare providers in many aspects. 2.2. The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Challenges The pandemic of covid-19 is likely to place healthcare professionals worldwide in an unprecedented situation, forcing them to make impossible choices and work under extreme pressure. These choices may include how to allocate scarce resources to equally deserving patients, how to balance their physical and mental healthcare needs with those of patients, how to balance their desire and obligation to patients with those of family and friends, and how to care for all severely ill patients with limited or insufficient resources. It may result in mental health issues for some individuals (2020). The aggressive public health implementations recommended preventive safety measures by health specialists to suppress, sustain, and manage the COVID-19 pandemic locally. The adverse effects of COVID-19 on behavioural and interventional changes may occur in communities due to transmission RAMSEY Vol. 1 (1), No. 3, 2022 2-8
REVIEW OF ADVANCED MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE, ENGINEERING & INNOVATION (RAMSEY) dynamics (Abbas, 2021). Negative manifests in various emotional reactions (such as distress or psychiatric disorders), unhealthy behaviours (such as excessive substance use), and non- compliance with public health directives (such as home confinement and vaccination) in both those who contract the disease and the general population (Pfefferbaum & North, 2020). While the nationwide lockdown caused financial losses and impacted all segments of society, the domino effect on health, healthcare, and nutrition could potentially result in significant setbacks to previously achieved health programs and preventive protocols (Gopalan & Misra, 2020). The aggressive public health implementations recommended preventative safety measures by health specialists to suppress, sustain, and manage the COVID-19 pandemic locally (Abbas, 2021). As the health system adapts to this pandemic, it must be mindful of the numerous moral and ethical dilemmas during patient care. They have to address stigma- related issues that may arise for both patients and providers and provide for vulnerable groups unable to access healthcare but require it most (Hebbar et al., 2020). Therefore, telemedicine or telehealth technology is an excellent tool to solve the COVID-19 situation better. 2.3. Telemedicine (Telehealth Technology) Telemedicine provides health care and the exchange of health-related information across geographical boundaries. It is not a new or distinct branch of medicine. Telemedicine episodes can be classified according to the following criteria: (1) the nature of the interactions between the patients and the experts (live or prerecorded); and (2) the type of information transmitted (e.g. text, audio, video). In comparison, the majority of telemedicine is currently practised in industrialised countries. Also, there is growing interest in telemedicine in developing countries (Craig & Petterson, 2005). Telemedicine has the potential to assist by allowing mildly ill patients to receive necessary supportive care while limiting their exposure to other acutely ill patients. The only infection that a user of telehealth technology can contract is a computer virus. Nearly all health plans and large employers cover telemedicine services (Portnoy et al., 2020). Healthcare providers who have worked for an extended period may have a brief sense of self-satisfaction given the rise of telemedicine. However, this is not the time for the telemedicine community to congratulate itself or claim vindication. While the unfolding events have demonstrated the viability of our vision of extending health resources to those in need of care regardless of distance or time constraints via telemedicine, now is also the time to reinforce the safeguards for safe and effective medical care (Bashshur et al., 2020). Despite the widespread use of digital technology in healthcare, telemedicine has been slow to gain traction. Healthcare systems have begun planning for crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic to allocate resources appropriately and prevent virus exposure while providing effective patient care (Loeb et al., 2020). Throughout the current pandemic, Medicaid expanded access to telemedicine services. Telemedicine's future benefits include cost-effectiveness, the ability to expand access to specialty services, and the potential to help mitigate the looming physician shortage. The disadvantages have a lack of technological resources in some country areas, concerns about patient data security, and difficulties performing the traditional patient examination. Changes must be made to fully integrate telemedicine into the healthcare landscape to prepare for future pandemics and reap the benefits of this service in the future (Kichloo et al., 2020). Telemedicine utilises the Internet and associated technologies to connect the convenience, low cost, and ready accessibility of health-related information and communication. Thus, telemedicine was the doctors' first line of defence against the coronavirus epidemic, maintaining social distance and providing services via phone or videoconferencing for mild cases to focus personal care and limited RAMSEY Vol. 1 (1), No. 3, 2022 3-8
REVIEW OF ADVANCED MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE, ENGINEERING & INNOVATION (RAMSEY) supplies on the most urgent issues among healthcare providers and patients (Vidal-Alaball et al., 2020). 2.4. Intention to Use Telemedicine (Telehealth Technology) Telehealth applications for health promotion, social services, and other activities are intended to provide services outside of clinical settings in homes, schools, libraries, and other governmental and community locations. Health information websites, online support groups, automated telephone counselling, interactive health promotion programs, and electronic mail exchanges are examples of such developments (Kaplan & Litewka, 2008). Telemedicine programs in health care are thriving as organisations strive to cut costs and increase efficiency. With the rapid growth in investment in telemedicine products and services, user technology acceptance has emerged as a critical factor in successful implementation. The Unified Theory of Acceptance in Technology (UTAUT) was used to determine the predictors of patients, clinicians, and agency personnel's behavioural intention to use Telehealth equipment (Kohnke et al., 2014). When UTAUT is used to explain the choice to use telemedicine, it is discovered that performance expectations, effort expectations, and facilitating conditions all significantly affect behaviour intention to use Telehealth. Social influence has a negligible impact on behavioural intention, as early adopters are considered to be resistant to alternative viewpoints. Additionally, doctors' opinions significantly affect performance expectancy, while computer anxiety affects effort expectancy (Napitupulu et al., 2021). Therefore, the intention to use telemedicine is related to individuals’ perceptions. 2.5. The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Behavioural Changes to Use Telemedicine (Telehealth Technology) in Consultations Interventions are required to increase individuals’ COVID-19 behaviour changes. Additionally, the critical nature of comprehending patients' emotional responses to COVID- 19 is predictive of their behavioural responses (Barber & Kim, 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic has altered social behaviour in profound ways. While addressing these changes' potential mental health consequences is essential, behavioural health changes also need to be considered. Examples of dramatic changes in sleep, substance use, physical activity, and diet have occurred, which may have ramifications for mental health (Arora & Grey, 2020). People exhibited various behavioural changes in response to COVID-19, including panic buying, mass travel during periods of movement restriction, and even absconding from treatment facilities (Echaniz et al., 2021). It is critical to emphasise the essential nature of developing clear guidelines for mitigating adverse effects on mental health through effective communication strategies that minimise fear and emphasise positive behavioural change (Lauri Korajlija & Jokic‐Begic, 2020). Therefore, telemedicine, also known as "remote medical care," is the practice of providing clinical healthcare via electronic communication technologies rather than in-person meetings between a patient and a doctor. Telemedicine began with the use of a telephone. Recently, the service has been significantly improved through video calls and other telecommunications applications. Telemedicine has the potential to substantially improve the mental and physical health of the population due to recent technological advancements in consultations (Hau et al., 2020). 2.6. The Essential of Telemedicine on Preventive COVID-19 Protocols The healthcare providers utilised all professional platforms, including telemedicine, to connect patients, experts, and information managing of COVID-19 patients. Additionally, telemedicine provided community residents and medical staff with prevention and treatment RAMSEY Vol. 1 (1), No. 3, 2022 4-8
REVIEW OF ADVANCED MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE, ENGINEERING & INNOVATION (RAMSEY) guidance, training, communication, and remote consulting. The telemedicine platform was critical to containing the COVID-19 epidemic (Song et al., 2020). Telemedicine will play a crucial role in the future of health medicine; however, it should be used in the appropriate settings and circumstances. Proper training, enhanced documentation, communication, and adherence to information governance guidelines all contribute to avoiding the pitfalls inherent in remote consultations (Iyengar et al., 2020). In response to COVID-19, the telehealth revolution has increased access to essential health care during an unprecedented public health crisis. However, virtual patient care can compromise the patient-provider relationship, examination quality, health care delivery efficiency, and overall quality of care (Reeves et al., 2021). Telemedicine has grown, and remote care trends are consistent with social distancing guidelines. Training healthcare providers to deliver high-quality, safe, and personalised health care via telemedicine will equip the next generation of physicians to use these technologies conscientiously and meet the growing demand for telehealth services (Jumreornvong et al., 2020). Therefore, healthcare providers could use telemedicine for preventive COVID-19 protocols to keep distancing and prevent its transmissions. 3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Five databases were searched for this systematic review: PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. The inclusion criteria were studies that clearly defined telehealth services in all aspects of healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic, were published and written in English, and were peer-reviewed. Five independent reviewers evaluated search results, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of included studies to summarise and report the findings; a narrative synthesis was used. 4. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Telehealth is a critical tool for providing remote health care and has grown in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. It enables healthcare providers to provide safe, timely, and high-quality ambulatory care to patients without putting both parties at risk of disease exposure. Technological advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI) and robots may be used in telemedicine to strengthen the capacity to respond to future pandemics beyond the COVID-19 era. Telemedicine or telehealth adoption and implementation in consultations among healthcare providers or providers-patients will enhance the practical physical and mental illness treatment. Telehealth applications demonstrate choices for rapid deployment of telemedicine and increased access to high-quality, cost-effective healthcare, both treatment, and prevention. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The authors acknowledge Dr. Supaprawat Siripipatthanakul, who assist the guidance of this review article. REFERENCES Abbas, J. (2021). Crisis management, transnational healthcare challenges and opportunities: The intersection of COVID-19 pandemic and global mental health. Research in Globalization, 3, 100037. RAMSEY Vol. 1 (1), No. 3, 2022 5-8
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