The future of telemedicine visits after COVID-19: perceptions of primary care pediatricians

Background

The aim of this study was to assess the use of telemedicine by Israeli pediatricians during the pandemic, and to elucidate how they foresee telemedicine as a medium of medical practice in the post-pandemic era.

Methods

A web-based survey was distributed among Israeli pediatricians in May 2020, soon after the first lockdown relaxation was announced. The survey assessed the frequency of telemedicine use as well as its influence on clinical decision making before and during COVID-19, using two hypothetical clinical scenarios. The same scenarios were also used to assess how the pediatricians foresee telemedicine in the post-pandemic period.

Results

One hundred and sixty-nine pediatricians responded to the survey (response rate=40%). Reported daily use of text messages, pictures and videoconferencing increased from 24%, 15% and 1% before COVID-19 to 40%, 40% and 12% during the pandemic, respectively (p<0.05). After the pandemic, projected use of text messages and pictures/videoclips is expected to decrease to 27% and 26%, respectively (p<0.05), but pictures/videoclips are expected to increase from 15% before to 26% after (p<0.05). The reported high likelihood of treating suspected pneumonia or prescribing antibiotics for suspected otitis media via telemedicine is expected to decrease from 20% during COVID-19 to 6%% after (p<0.05), and from 14% during the pandemic to 3% after, respectively. (p<0.05).

Conclusions

The study highlights the rise in use of telemedicine technologies by primary care pediatricians during the initial phase of COVID-19 and their expectations that use levels will recede after the pandemic.