Provider's satisfaction with telemedicine services for tribals of Western Rajasthan: A qualitative analysis

J Family Med Prim Care. 2024 May;13(5):1708-1714. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1241_23. Epub 2024 May 24.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There are significant barriers to healthcare access in tribal areas, even though for every 834 people, there is one public physician (registered allopathic and AYUSH doctors). More than 86% of hospital visits occur in rural areas. Furthermore, the bulk of them travel long distances to reach hospitals. A telemedicine center was established in the aspirational tribal district of Sirohi, Rajasthan, to provide accessible quality health care.

OBJECTIVE: To understand providers' attitudes and satisfaction with telemedicine services for tribal populations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional, mixed-method study enrolled consultants from various clinical departments of AIIMS Jodhpur (n = 23) who provide teleconsultations to the tribal population.

RESULT: The mean score of the satisfactory index was 54.7 ± 22.04. The higher score is 87.4 regarding the ability to use the technology platform during teleconsultation. The lower score was 34.7 for video quality during teleconsultation at STHR. 91.3% found this a beneficial model for the tribal population. Consultants providing teleconsultations expressed that this model is a boon for tribal patients as a screening tool and will save time and money for improved accessibility.

CONCLUSION: Positive indications of teleconsultation with a provider's utility, acceptability, and satisfaction. Most marginalized people can efficiently access all levels of (primary, secondary, or tertiary) health care from experts through telemedicine, which will broaden outreach in hard-to-reach or inaccessible tribal or rural areas.

PMID:38948550 | PMC:PMC11213451 | DOI:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1241_23