Mapping Telemedicine in German Private Practice Urological Care: Implications for Transitioning beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Adult
Aged
Attitude of Health Personnel
Attitude to Computers
COVID-19
Germany
Health Care Surveys
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Middle Aged
Practice Patterns, Physicians'
/ trends
Private Practice
/ trends
Telemedicine
/ trends
Urologic Diseases
/ diagnosis
Urologists
/ trends
Urology
/ trends
Guidelines
Telehealth
Telemedicine
Urology
Journal
Urologia internationalis
ISSN: 1423-0399
Titre abrégé: Urol Int
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 0417373
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2021
2021
Historique:
received:
15
01
2021
accepted:
22
02
2021
pubmed:
6
5
2021
medline:
10
7
2021
entrez:
5
5
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
There are limited data on the use and concern of telemedicine among German urologists, and thus, there are no established guidelines for telemedical diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of urological indications. An anonymized survey was conducted among German private practice urologists during the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The χ2 test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for statistical analysis. 257 urologists were included in the final analysis. Thirty-five (14.0%) of urologists had used telemedicine as part of their consultation, and 221 (86.0%) had not used telemedicine. There was no difference between telemedicine adoption rates between rural and urban settings. Telemedicine users were significantly more satisfied with the information they had received regarding telemedicine issues. Users saw the greatest barrier to telemedicine that patients do not take up the offer of telemedicine. Nonusers were most concerned with unclear indications for telemedicine followed by lesser reimbursements during telemedicine than in-person visitations. Users were significantly more likely to use telemedicine beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Urologists, who wanted to use the service in the future, wanted an active support by the German society of urology and guidelines for telemedicine. Last, users and nonusers preferred telemedicine for non-acute chronic diseases and follow-up visitations. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine remains a rarely used service among German private practice urologists. Ultimately, to overcome the current challenges, urologists require an active support for the service through the German Society of Urology and telemedical guidelines.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
There are limited data on the use and concern of telemedicine among German urologists, and thus, there are no established guidelines for telemedical diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of urological indications.
METHODS
METHODS
An anonymized survey was conducted among German private practice urologists during the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The χ2 test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were used for statistical analysis.
RESULTS
RESULTS
257 urologists were included in the final analysis. Thirty-five (14.0%) of urologists had used telemedicine as part of their consultation, and 221 (86.0%) had not used telemedicine. There was no difference between telemedicine adoption rates between rural and urban settings. Telemedicine users were significantly more satisfied with the information they had received regarding telemedicine issues. Users saw the greatest barrier to telemedicine that patients do not take up the offer of telemedicine. Nonusers were most concerned with unclear indications for telemedicine followed by lesser reimbursements during telemedicine than in-person visitations. Users were significantly more likely to use telemedicine beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. Urologists, who wanted to use the service in the future, wanted an active support by the German society of urology and guidelines for telemedicine. Last, users and nonusers preferred telemedicine for non-acute chronic diseases and follow-up visitations.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine remains a rarely used service among German private practice urologists. Ultimately, to overcome the current challenges, urologists require an active support for the service through the German Society of Urology and telemedical guidelines.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33951666
pii: 000515982
doi: 10.1159/000515982
pmc: PMC8247820
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
650-656Informations de copyright
© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.
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