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The use of E-health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a case study in China's Hubei province.
Wang, Weiquan; Sun, Li; Liu, Tao; Lai, Tian.
  • Wang W; School of Political Science and Public Administration, East China University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
  • Sun L; School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
  • Liu T; School of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
  • Lai T; Center for Social Welfare and Governance, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Health Sociol Rev ; 31(3): 215-231, 2022 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1279990
ABSTRACT
Globally, the use of e-health has accelerated dramatically during the coronavirus pandemic. Based on both quantitative and qualitative data collected in China's Hubei province (i.e. the first epicentre of COVID-19), this research explores how the pandemic influences the practices of e-health from the perspective of users. Through analysis of 1,033 surveys and 14 in-depth interviews, we find that e-health has played a crucial role in residents' healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Certain external factors influence the choice of digital health, including the high risk of infection outdoors, the shutting down of transport systems, and dysfunctional healthcare facilities that neglect non-COVID-19 patients' clinical demands. Against this backdrop, we argue digital health acts as a functional equivalent to traditional medical treatment and has largely satisfied patients and users in the crisis period. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has unintentionally sped up the diffusion of digital medicine over the long term as respondents expressed their willingness to continue use of e-health in the post-COVID-19 phase. However, we assert that despite the increasing use of e-health, it cannot fully substitute traditional offline treatment. Thus, we suggest a combination of online and offline healthcare will be more commonly practiced in the future.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Telemedicine / COVID-19 Type of study: Case report / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: Health Sociol Rev Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Telemedicine / COVID-19 Type of study: Case report / Observational study / Prognostic study / Qualitative research Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: Health Sociol Rev Year: 2022 Document Type: Article