ABSTRACT
Background: Physicians are showing a growing interest in teleconsultation, particularly since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Surveying physicians' satisfaction with telehealth helps identify areas of strength and weaknesses that need improvement to support the promotion of telemedicine in the future. This study aimed to evaluate physician satisfaction rates and perspectives on teleconsultation. Methods: A 20-item online survey on teleconsultation use, including benefits, disadvantages, and suggested optimal modalities, was distributed and collected anonymously among physicians working at a university hospital. Results: Out of 145 physicians who responded, 73.8% were satisfied with teleconsultation, and 79.3% considered that this service will persist in the future. The main disadvantages raised by the physicians were the use of the telephone for remote consultation, the risk of dehumanization of the doctor-patient relationship, and the belief of a greater risk of medical errors than in a face-to-face setting. Of the doctors who responded to our survey, 54% said that the time needed for a teleconsultation should be similar to that of a face-to-face consultation, i.e., 15 to 20 minutes. Conclusions: Most physicians were satisfied with teleconsultation. However, improvements in digital tools such as usability and efficiency are necessary for teleconsultation development in the future. Alongside these technological imperatives, the fear of an increase in medical errors and dehumanization of the doctor-patient relationship are issues that must be closely considered to promote telemedicine in medical practice. © 2023 Journal of Hospital Management and Health Policy.
ABSTRACT
Under the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people impacted by hunger around the world continued to rise in 2020. This fact undermines the worldwide ambition of feeding the world's ever-increasing population, which is expected to hit a record high by 2050. In contrast to this, in the twentieth century, food production increased dramatically, mostly owing to the invention and application of herbicides and nitrogenous and phosphorous fertilizers, breakthroughs in plant breeding, and genetic technology. However, despite the development of various technologies, many key crop yields plateaued a few decades ago. Climate change, the ever-increasing human population, depleted soil nutrients, water shortage, overuse of fossil energy, loss of biodiversity, onset of superweeds, and resistant insects and phytopathogens, among others, are the key factors hindering optimum crop production and thus food security. Interestingly, the symbiotic attributes of the obligatory symbionts, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), in agriculture have long demonstrated dependability and efficiency toward a wide range of agriculturally important crops. Strong advocacy and hopes are placed upon AMF as they are believed to curb the burdens brought about by the currently used unfriendly agricultural models. Factually, their ability to enhance crop growth and yield, to mitigate the hindrances perpetrated by abiotic (droughts, heat, and salinity) and biotic (pests and diseases) stresses, and to improve the nutrient content of processed food coupled with sustained agricultural soil texture/structures makes AMF a top alternative promising technology toward sustainable production in the context of the global food crisis and erratic climatic conditions. Nonetheless, the composition of AMF inoculants in terms of several individual and diverse taxa is the key factor to consider for the presumed success of such biological agents in the highly competitive rhizospheric conditions. This chapter aims at shedding light on the current world food security status and the major challenges faced in current agriculture and, finally, describes the attributes of AMF that could help in coping with the current drawbacks of the agricultural system for a flourishing future. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.