ABSTRACT
Digitalized healthcare services offer remote and cost-effective treatment of diabetes patients. Thus, the present online study analyzed the readiness to use telemonitoring among Austrian diabetes patients. We developed and validated a German version of the patient telehealth readiness assessment tool and performed quantitative context analysis of free-text comments on perceived barriers and benefits of telemonitoring. Participants (n = 41, 42.6% females) achieved a medium average readiness level for telemonitoring. The three top benefits were intensified care, shorter travel and waiting times, and better therapy adjustment. The top three barriers were data privacy issues, loss of personal communication and focus on blood sugar, and teledoctor competence. Diabetes patients represent a suitable target group for remote treatment opportunities. However, a shift from traditional face-to-face medical care to exclusive telemonitoring treatment from diagnosis to consultation and treatment requires fundamental new legal framework conditions.
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus , Telemedicine , Austria , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diabetes Mellitus/therapy , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Telemonitoring services could dramatically improve the care of diabetes patients by enhancing their quality of life while decreasing healthcare expenditures. However, the potential for implementing innovative treatment options in the Austrian public and private health system is not known yet. Thus, we analyzed the readiness to use telemonitoring in diabetes care among Austrian practitioners. METHODS: We conducted an online survey among a purposive sample of Austrian practitioners (n = 41) using an adapted German version of the practitioner telehealth readiness assessment tool. We assessed three readiness domains for telemonitoring in the context of diabetes care, i.e. core readiness, engagement readiness, and structural readiness, and validated the German tool using principal components analysis. RESULTS: Study subjects perceived themselves as open to innovations and also expressed optimistic attitudes towards telemonitoring in general and offering telemonitoring-based services for their patients. Participants achieved a medium average readiness level for telemonitoring (58.2, 95% CI 53.9-62.5) and were thus in a good position to use telemonitoring, although some arguments may adversely affected its use. The top three perceived benefits of telemonitoring were enhanced quality of treatment, better therapy adjustment, and reduced travel and waiting times for patients. The top three barriers were reduced personal communication, practitioner time expenditure and equally placed poor financial compensation as well as data security and privacy issues. CONCLUSION: Our data revealed that Austrian practitioners showed a quite moderate readiness to use telemonitoring in diabetes care. To further advance telemonitoring readiness among all pillars of diabetes care in Austria, joint efforts among healthcare stakeholders are required to overcome existing financial, organizational, and technical obstacles.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Diabetes Mellitus/therapy , Health Personnel , Monitoring, Ambulatory , Telemedicine , Adult , Aged , Austria , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Telemonitoring offers new opportunities in the treatment of chronically ill patients and could help to improve their quality of life while reducing healthcare costs. OBJECTIVES: The willingness to use telemonitoring is examined for both physicians and patients. From the perspective of the most important stakeholders, advantages and disadvantages as well as barriers for telemonitoring are analysed. METHODS: A Telehealth Readiness Assessment was carried out with physicians (n = 41) and patients (n = 47) in a cross-sectional study. A stakeholder survey was conducted by use of interviews (n = 28). RESULTS: Average readiness for telemonitoring is 58% for physicians, and 65% for patients. Both are thus in a position where there are several arguments which adversely affect the success of telemonitoring. The most important advantage is the intensified care, while the biggest concerns are data protection as well as the loss of personal communication. The greatest barriers are the lack of funding, the weak clinical and economic evidence and the organisation of the Austrian healthcare system. CONCLUSION: There are still some barriers to overcome, especially financial, political and organisational.
