Exploring medical students' perceptions of telehealth in Pakistan: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: BMC medical education Vol. 24; no. 1; pp. 1093 - 8
• Main Authors: Ansari, Rafay Shahab, Alfakeer, Hussein, Arif, Fariha, Bashir, Muhammad Arsalan, Zehra, Maha, Rauf, Sameer Abdul, Shah, Hussain Haider, Qayyum, Sardar Noman, Tehseen, Annoushay
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 07.10.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Access to Health Care; Adult; Analysis; Attitude of Health Personnel; Colleges & universities; Computer proficiency; Computer Use; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data Collection; Educational Background; Ethics; Female; Health care industry; Health care reform; Health Services; Humans; Information management; Male; Medical Care Evaluation; Medical education; Medical research; Medical Students; Medicine, Experimental; Nonparametric Statistics; Pakistan; Public Colleges; Questionnaires; Rural Areas; Rural Population; Sex Factors; Statistical Analysis; Statistical Data; Student Surveys; Students, Medical - psychology; Surveys; Surveys and Questionnaires; Telecommunications; Telehealth; Telemedicine; Universities; Urban Areas; Urban Population; Young Adult; Pakistan; Karachi Pakistan; Medical students; Telehealth; Computer proficiency
• ISSN: 1472-6920; 1472-6920
• DOI: 10.1186/s12909-024-06086-7

This study aimed to investigate medical students' perceptions of telehealth in Pakistan and assess the relationship between students' proficiency in computers and technology, gender, and age. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 330 medical students from various universities in Karachi, Pakistan. Data on demographic characteristics, computer proficiency, and perceptions of telehealth were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were utilized for data analysis. The study included 330 participants, predominantly from public universities (83.3%), with a mean age of 21.40 ± 4.24 years. Most participants were pursuing MBBS (67%). In terms of computer proficiency, 41.8% fell into the middle category. Gender correlated significantly with proficiency (p < 0.05), with females more often in the middle category and males in the not-that-amateur category. Age demonstrated a small positive correlation with proficiency (p < 0.05). A majority (77.6%) expressed a general interest in technology. Regarding healthcare apps, 51.8% had 1-3 apps, and 33.6% had none. Most participants believed telehealth would enhance healthcare (72.1%) and make it cheaper (63.3%). Additionally, 56.7% agreed that Pakistan should invest in telehealth, while only 2.7% disagreed. The study revealed that medical students in Pakistan exhibit an interest in technology and perceive telehealth as beneficial. These findings suggest that telehealth holds the potential to enhance healthcare opportunities in Pakistan. Therefore, investing in and expanding telehealth services may represent a viable solution for improving access to healthcare in the country.