Awareness and Perception of Telemedicine Among the General Population in the Central, Northern, and Western Regions of Saudi Arabia

Cureus. 2024 Jul 19;16(7):e64895. doi: 10.7759/cureus.64895. eCollection 2024 Jul.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine is a paradigm shift that utilizes technology for remote healthcare delivery, improving the quality of care.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the general population's awareness and perception regarding telemedicine in the central, northern, and western regions of Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the central, northern, and western regions of Saudi Arabia from January 2024 to May 2024. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data, including sociodemographic information and questions to assess participants' awareness and perception of telemedicine. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 27 (Released 2020; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States), with significance at p < 0.05.

RESULTS: Out of 414 adult participants in the study, 264 (63.8%) were female, and 205 (49.5%) were below the age of 25. Approximately a quarter of the participants reported being very or moderately familiar with telemedicine. Furthermore, most participants (80.5%, 243) expressed their willingness to try telemedicine. The most common barriers to telemedicine practice were concerns about diagnostic reliability, resistance from physicians, and patient resistance. The study found no significant associations between participants' sociodemographic variables, their familiarity with telemedicine, and their readiness to adopt it.

CONCLUSION: While there is a low level of awareness and knowledge regarding telemedicine among general populations in Saudi Arabia, there is generally a positive perception and willingness to adopt telemedicine for improved healthcare delivery. Addressing barriers to adopting such technology is crucial to ensure the country's successful implementation and widespread acceptance of telemedicine.

PMID:39161500 | PMC:PMC11332973 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.64895