CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2022; 44(08): 755-760
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1748971
Original Article
Urogynecology

Patient Acceptance of Telemedicine in Urogynecology Consultations – A Cross-Sectional Study Performed at a Brazilian Public Institution

Aceitação de telemedicina em consultas de uroginecologia: Estudo transversal em uma instituição pública brasileira
1   Postgraduate Program in Women's Health of Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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2   Division of Urology, Hospital das Clínicas of Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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3   Division of Urology, Hospital das Clínicas of Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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4   Physiotherapist, State University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
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5   Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Funding The coauthor GMVP receives a scholarship Grant (number 2019/26723–5) from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP).

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the acceptance of telemedicine and determine its associated factors in an urogynecology outpatient clinic of a public hospital in Brazil.

Methods The present was a cross-sectional study performed between June and November 2020. The included patients had their elective appointments postponed due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The variables considered regarding the acceptance of telemedicine were: urogynecologic diagnosis, age, level of schooling, place of residence, access to the internet, type of device used, frequency of internet use, and use of social media platforms. The categorical variables were described by their absolute and relative frequencies. The association among variables was evaluated through the Fisher exact test, and univariate and multivariate analyses, considering the acceptance of telemedicine as the dependent variable.

Results A total of 225 patients were listed, and 182 agreed to participate. The mean age was 59 years old, 81.3% of the patients had access to the internet, and 87.3% of them accepted telemedicine. There were statistically significant associations regarding the acceptance of telemedicine and high levels of schooling (p < 0.01), internet access (p < 0.01), daily use of the internet (p < 0.01), access through personal mobile phone (p < 0.01), and access through the participant's own residence (p < 0.01). In the univariate and multivariate analyses, only high levels of schooling were associated with the acceptance of telemedicine (Adjusted odds ratio: 4.82; 95% confidence interval = 1.59–14.65).

Conclusion Most of the urogynecology patients of a public hospital in a developing country accepted telemedicine. Internet access and level of schooling were the factors associated with the acceptance of telemedicine in urogynecology.

Resumo

Objetivo Avaliar aceitação da telemedicina e determinar seus fatores associados em uma clínica de uroginecologia de um hospital público brasileiro.

Métodos Trata-se de estudo transversal realizado entre junho e novembro de 2020. Foram recrutadas pacientes que tiveram seus atendimentos eletivos adiados devido à pandemia de doença do coronavírus 2019 (coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19, em inglês). As variáveis consideradas para a aceitação da telemedicina foram: diagnóstico uroginecológico, idade, escolaridade, local de residência, acesso à internet, tipo de dispositivo, frequência do uso da internet, e uso de plataformas de redes sociais. As variáveis categóricas foras descritas na forma de suas frequências absoluta e relativa. A associação entre essas variáveis foi avaliada por meio do teste exato de Fisher e análises uni e multivariada, e a aceitação da telemedicina foi considerada a variável dependente.

Resultados Um total de 225 pacientes foram listadas, e 182 concordaram em participar. A idade média das participantes foi de 59 anos; 81,3% delas tinham acesso à internet, e 87,3% aceitaram a telemedicina. Observaram-se associações estatisticamente significativas entre a aceitação e maior escolaridade (p < 0,01), acesso à internet (p < 0,01), uso diário da internet (p < 0,01), acesso por celular próprio (p < 0,01), e acesso da própria residência (p < 0,01). Nas análises uni e multivariada, somente alto nível de escolaridade esteve associado à aceitação da telemedicina (razão de probabilidades ajustada: 4,82; intervalo de confiança de 95% = 1,59–14,65).

Conclusão A maioria das pacientes atendidas em um hospital público de um país em desenvolvimento concordaram com a telemedicina. Acesso à internet e nível de escolaridade foram fatores associados à aceitação da telemedicina nessa população.

Contributions

Macharet DVDL: project development, data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing. Mendes LN: project development, data collection, data analysis, manuscript editing. Oliveira WCS: data collection, data analysis. Pereira GMV: project development, data analysis, manuscript editing. Monteiro MVC: project development, data analysis, manuscript editing.




Publication History

Received: 23 June 2021

Accepted: 15 January 2022

Article published online:
27 June 2022

© 2022. Federação Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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