ABSTRACT
The progress of information and communication technologies in the era of COVID-19 created an unprecedented opportunity for medicine to adapt to new models of care. Telemedicine and telehealth have enabled medical care at a distance in various fields, including ophthalmology. The aim of this article is to review the current state and the opportunities for telemedicine in ophthalmology. Material(s) and Method(s): PubMed, ScienceDirect Database, Google Scholar databases, as well as official sites of various governmental and non-governmental institutions were explored. The search was conducted between May 1, 2022 and July 31, 2022 using as key words "teleophthalmology";"telemedicine/telehealth and ophthalmology";"ophthalmology and COVID-19". Result(s): 87 primary sources were reviewed. An exploratory analysis of the current state and application of telemedicine in ophthalmology was made. Conclusion(s): A great number of innovations have created an environment allowing for teleophthalmology to flourish, whereas the COVID-19 epidemic has accelerated the development and adoption of these digital technologies. Telemedicine has become an extremely valuable tool during a pandemic, and even if it would never fully replace in the person-to-person patient visits, it certainly has an important role in our dynamic and high-tech world. Copyright © 2023 S. Uzunova et al., published by Sciendo.
ABSTRACT
In the fight against COVID-19, general practitioners (GPs) play a crucial role, as they are on the front lines every day caring for their patients. They are assigned the mission of saving patients’ lives as well as preventing and controlling the pandemic outbreak. In this extraordinary situation, they must be able to perform under pressure and deliver the best results in such an extremely risky work environment. The aim of this study is to examine the job satisfaction of GPs during COVID-19 and to analyse the associated influencing factors. Job satisfaction of GPs during the pandemic is relatively high. The results show that many of the respondents are pleased with their current job during the pandemic but are not content with their payment. More than half of the GPs (55.7%) do not intend to leave their current job, although 84.4% of them are worried about their safety at work. They are not satisfied with the leisure time they have. © 2022, Scibulcom Ltd.. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
In times of global pandemic, telemedicine is emerging as an effective and sustainable solution to stop the spread of COVID-19. The aim of this article is to study the public attitudes towards the application of telemedicine in Bulgaria in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods: To study the public attitudes for the application of telemedicine in a pandemic, 253 people were interviewed voluntarily and anonymously. We used our own tools – a questionnaire distributed online. Statistical data processing was performed using IBM SPSS v. 23. Results: Respondents with higher education and healthcare workers were more distrustful of health information on the Internet. Over 75% of the respondents stated that they would use remote medical services for consultation with a medical professional in case of a health problem, and nearly 59% of them would pay for remote medical services for consultation and/or monitoring of treatment. The issuance of an electronic referral, an electronic sick leave form and an electronic prescription could limit the spread of COVID-19 according to 77.4% of them. Almost ¾ of our respondents would install a mobile application to contact a doctor in case of emergency. The preferred means of consulting a medical professional in the current pandemic is a telephone conversation. Conclusion: Telemedicine is essential to ensure that patients have access to medical care. In times of global public health emergency, health systems must rely on remote medical examinations and electronic prescriptions to deal with the further spread of the disease.
ABSTRACT
Electronic Health (eHealth) is the use of technologies in healthcare, including treatment, health promotion, monitoring and disease prevention. Its introduction in the primary medical care will facilitate the work of the general practitioner, increase the quality of the offered health services and compensate the shortage of health specialists. The aim of this overview was to analyze the current state of eHealth in the practice of general practitioners in Bulgaria. Material and methods. A search was conducted in the databases of PubMed, ScienceDirect Database, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, as well as in the official websites of various governmental and non-governmental institutions. It was organized from November 1, 2020, to January 31, 2021, by key words: “eHealth” and “general practitioners” or “family doctors”. Results. An overview of existing sources was made. The advantages and benefits of the application of eHealth in the practice of general practitioners in a number of European countries and in Bulgaria were studied. The opportunities it offers in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic were analyzed. The existing limitations and obstacles for its successful implementation in Bulgaria were considered. Conclusion. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development and implementation of eHealth not only in Bulgaria. Examples of technology entering the practice of general practitioners are common in most European countries. This is most often seen in the context of implementing health reform, introducing new and innovative models for health care delivery and offering effective methods for accessing and exchanging health information. © 2021, Central Medical Library Medical University – Sofia. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Primary care is the basis of numerous attempts and initiatives applied in health reforms in recent years. One of them is the introduction of e-health, which will not only facilitate the work of the general practitioners (GPs) and increase the quality of the offered health services but also protects the environment because it reduces the amount of used medical supplies that require specialised disposal. The aim of the present study is to examine the attitudes towards the application of e-health among GPs in Bulgaria. 381 GPs participated in our study voluntarily, anonymously and without preselection. Most of the respondents knew what the term "e-health" included. GPs work in conditions of partially introduced e-health. They were interested in its application and were ready to actively participate in its development and final implementation in their practice. Around half of the surveyed GPs feared legal regulation (49.6%), followed by difficulties in using technology (47.5%), as well as lack of technical knowledge (35.4%). Less than 1/3 were afraid of misuse of personal information (28.9%). E-health has significant potential to address many of the challenges facing primary care in today's healthcare environment. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the development and implementation of e-health not only in Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT
In times of global pandemic, telemedicine is emerging as an effective and sustainable solution to stop the spread of COVID-19. The aim of this article is to study the public attitudes towards the application of telemedicine in Bulgaria in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and methods: To study the public attitudes for the application of telemedicine in a pandemic, 253 people were interviewed voluntarily and anonymously. We used our own tools - a questionnaire distributed online. Statistical data processing was performed using IBM SPSS v. 23.
ABSTRACT
The aim of the present work is to study the quality of distance learning in medical universities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. An anonymous voluntary online survey was conducted among students from the Medical University – Plovdiv, from all courses, during May-June, 2020. It included a total of 479 students, 352 students were taught in English and 127 in Bulgarian. The first panel had 13 questions related to the overall satisfaction with e-learning, in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The second panel related to the specialty, age, course and gender. The respondents studying medicine were (n = 349;72.9%), dentistry (n = 73;15.2%). According to our respondents, the effectiveness of the form of distance learning introduced at the Medical University of Plovdiv was very good. The average efficiency score given by them was 6.53 ± 2.210 (the scale was from 1 to 10). Students who were taught in English, those majoring in Medicine, and women were more critical of distance learning (p = 0.001). Distance e-learning in medical universities cannot completely replace the traditional one, but it can upgrade it. The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly posed many challenges to medical universities, but it has also created an opportunity for a revolution in medical education. © 2021, Scibulcom Ltd.. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The therapy of "post-COVID-19 syndrome" requires a multidisciplinary team, an individualized approach and long-term rehabilitation. Recovery and rehabilitation after COVID-19 is aimed specifically at overcoming the consequences of the disease by strengthening the respiratory, nervous and cardiovascular systems through treatment and rehabilitation procedures. The complex program includes pulmonary rehabilitation to increase lung capacity and overall metabolic effects. Complex rehabilitation is part of the whole treatment plan and includes many physical and rehabilitation activities, health care, healthy behavior, training and prevention of complications of patients after infection.
ABSTRACT
Global pandemics pose unprecedented challenges to healthcare. In the current situation, telemedicine appears to be a sustainable and effective solution in the implementation of precautions, prevention and treatment in order to discontinue the spreading of the coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The aim of this paper was to research and analyze the role of telemedicine in assistance to healthcare in the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The PubMed Database, Google Scholar, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect (Elsevier) and sites of public authorities have been accessed and reviewed. Results: Advantages, restrictions, policy and application of telemedicine in the conditions of COVID-19 pandemic have been studied and analyzed. Conclusion: Healthcare systems are put under an extreme test during global pandemics. Telemedicine is crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic because it guarantees that patients have access to medical care.