Barriers and Facilitators of Telemedicine Among Physicians at a University Hospital.

Background and aims This study explored the perceived barriers and facilitators to the implementation of telemedicine among physicians and estimated and compared the prevalence of telemedicine use among physicians before and during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at King Saud University in Riyadh. A convenience sample of 163 physicians working at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) completed an online survey. Demographic data, patterns of use, and perceived barriers and facilitators of telemedicine were collected using a 5-point Likert scale. Results Our research showed that 61.3% (n = 100) of the physicians surveyed had used telemedicine in their careers. The prevalence of telemedicine before the onset of COVID-19 was 18.4%, whereas during COVID-19, it increased to 59.5%, which is an increase of 330% (P < .001). Most of the respondents (50.9%; n = 83) used it weekly (27%) or occasionally (23.9%). The most prevalent perceived barrier was technical difficulties (68.7%; n = 112), and the most prevalent perceived facilitator was that telemedicine can reduce unnecessary face-to-face appointments (86.5%; n = 141). Conclusion The use of telemedicine to provide health care is on the rise, especially in the case of emergencies. Different specialties face different facilitators and barriers, and the potential of telemedicine implementation depends on the work environment and the needs of the specialty. Several obstacles need to be overcome before telemedicine becomes a consistently used method for providing health care.

Effect of Blackcurrant Consumption on the Genitourinary System: A Literature Review.

Both in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that functional plant-based food such as fruits, vegetables, and berries can enhance health, have preventive effects, and reduce the risk of several chronic diseases. This review discusses blackcurrant fruit usage in humans and experimental animals and its effect on the genitourinary system (GUS). This comprehensive review demonstrates that blackcurrants and their bioactive compounds possess medicinal and therapeutic properties related to the GUS. Emphasis in the literature has been placed on the bioavailability of the active blackcurrant components. Nonetheless, future clinical trials are needed to investigate and improve the bioavailability of blackcurrant phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins, and to expand the evidence that active blackcurrant compounds can treat various genitourinary diseases.