Epidemiol Health.
2022;44(1):e2022020. 10.4178/epih.e2022020.
The general public’s perspectives on telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea: analysis of a nationwide survey
- Affiliations
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- 1National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
- 2Department of Family Medicine, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea
- 3Department of Family Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea
- 4Department of Emergency Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- 5Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Cheongju University, Cheongju, Korea
- 6ublic Healthcare Center, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea
- 7HIRA Research Institute, Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, Wonju, Korea
- 8Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 9Institute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul, Korea
- KMID: 2529900
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2022020
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
We investigated the awareness, experience, approval, intention to use, and the desired type of telemedicine among Korean general public.
METHODS
From November to December 2020, we conducted an online self-reported survey on awareness, experience, approval, and intent to use telemedicine services among Korean residents aged 20 years or older. A total of 2,097 participants completed the survey.
RESULTS
Of the 2,097 participants, 1,558 (74.3%) were aware of, 1,198 (57.1%) approved of, and 1,474 (70.3%) had the intention to use telemedicine. Participants from regions other than the Seoul metropolitan area and Daegu–Gyeongbuk Province (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.29; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 1.63), households with a monthly household income of US$6,000 or more (aOR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.01 to 2.08), participants who had a college/university or associate’s degree (aOR, 1.35. 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.75) or a master’s degree or above (aOR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.20 to 2.50), and housewives (aOR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.64) had higher odds of approval. Elderly participants, those with a chronic disease (aOR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.54), those who had experienced delays of healthcare services (aOR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.27 to 2.96), and those who had experience with telemedicine (aOR, 4.28; 95% CI, 1.69 to 10.82) were more likely to intend to use telemedicine services. Regarding types of telemedicine, teleconsultation between doctors showed the highest approval rate (73.1%).
CONCLUSIONS
In the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, more than 70% of participants had already used or intended to use telemedicine at some point. Groups with a substantial need for telemedicine were more in favor of telemedicine.
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