Factors Impacting Patient Perspectives on Telehealth and Remote Healthcare during COVID-19: A Mixed Methods Study

ABSTRACT

A rapid transformation to telehealth was a necessary precaution during the pandemic. This research sought a better understanding of factors impacting patients’ decisions on choosing telehealth. A mixed methods study was conducted with a sample of 276 patients. An online survey was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data. This study found that technical issues were the most significant factor preventing patients from using telehealth, among other factors such as waiting time and privacy concern. The results inform policy-makers and healthcare providers on how to optimize telehealth. The limitations of this study and future research directions are also discussed.