Access and Disparities in the Use of Telemedicine Among Patients with Chronic Conditions in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Autor: Almalki ZS, Imam MT, Abou Chahin NF, ALSammak NS, Entabli SM, Alhammad SK, Alanazi GF, Kharsa RA, Alonazi LA, Mandil RA, Albassam AA, Alshehri AM, Alahmari AK, Alem GM, Alalwan AA, Alamer A
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, Vol Volume 16, Pp 3789-3798 (2023)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 1178-2390
Popis: Ziyad S Almalki,1 Mohammad T Imam,1 Nada F Abou Chahin,2 Naheda S ALSammak,2 Shahad M Entabli,2 Shatha K Alhammad,2 Ghuyudh F Alanazi,2 Rama A Kharsa,2 Layla A Alonazi,2 Rasha A Mandil,2 Ahmed A Albassam,1 Ahmed M Alshehri,1 Abdullah K Alahmari,1 Ghada M Alem,1 Abdullah A Alalwan,1 Ahmad Alamer1 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia; 2Collage of Pharmacy, Almaarefa University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Ziyad S Almalki, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966 11 588 7315, Email z.almalki@psau.edu.saPurpose: This study investigated the access to and disparities in telemedicine use among patients with chronic conditions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study of randomly selected primary healthcare centers was conducted to ensure that each of the 17 municipalities in Riyadh were represented. Three hundred and forty-two participants who completed the questionnaire were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. The relationship between demographic and socioeconomic factors and telemedicine utilization was evaluated using the chi-square test and multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression model.Results: Among the 342 participants, the study revealed that 25.73% of the patients utilized telemedicine. Older participants had lower odds of telemedicine use than did those aged ≤ 30 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.112, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.045– 0.279 for 50– 59 years; AOR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.076– 0.474 for 60– 69 years; AOR = 0.223, 95% CI = 0.092– 0.542 for ≥ 70 years]. Female sex (AOR = 2.519, 95% CI = 1.44– 4.408), having a higher education level (AOR = 3.434, 95% CI = 1.037– 7.041 for secondary education and AOR = 5.87, 95% CI = 2.761– 8.235 for higher education), and living in urban areas (AOR = 2.721, 95% CI = 1.184– 6.256) were associated with higher odds of telemedicine use. Among socioeconomic factors, employed participants had higher odds of telemedicine use (AOR = 4.336, 95% CI = 2.3– 8.174). Furthermore, compared to those with the highest socioeconomic status (SES) index, those with the lowest SES were less likely to use telemedicine than those with the highest SES index (AOR = 0.193, 95% CI = 0.055– 0.683 for the lower bottom (poorest).Conclusion: This study highlights a significant disparity in the utilization of telemedicine services across different populations, primarily due to demographic and socioeconomic factors.Keywords: healthcare system, socioeconomic, digital health, inequities
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