Perspectives and Confidence of Medical Students toward Telemedicine in Disruptive Era

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 pandemic disrupts the current form of patient care such as lock down and fear of disease at hospital. Convenience and modern care of patient emerged such as telemedicine and Metaverse. Preparation medical students for modern care is important. This research assesses the perspectives and confidence of medical students in Telemedicine.

Methods: This study focused on medical cadets of Phramongkutklao College of Medicine. The questionnaire of this study is quantitative data included three parts: general characteristics, perspectives and confidence toward telemedicine. Data were collected by using a five-point Likert-scale in an electronic standardized questionnaire edited in Google platform coveringperspectives toward telemedicine (case management, medical teaching, patient convenience, physical convenience) and confidence toward telemedicine (history taking, physical exam, case management, case evaluation). One-way ANOVA was used to compare all perspectives and confidence with independent t-test for comparing perspectives and confidence between groups. Data were analysed using SPSS 26.0.

Results: Ninety-four students enrolled. Most of them were in pre-clinical year (73.4%). There was significant different in perspectives toward telemedicine (F = 4.05, p = 0.008). Perspectives toward case management was lower than use of telemedicine for medical teaching (Mean difference = 0.33, p = 0.013) and patient convenience (Mean difference = 0.29, p = 0.033). Regarding confidence, there was no significant difference in all aspects of case management. All aspect of confidence had generally low mean score.

Conclusion: The perspective of medical students toward the telemedicine is positive attitude except for case management. However, the confident for using telemedicine is rather low as a cause of medical school not prepare or practice medical students for using telemedicine. As a result, medical school is still lack of adaptation for disruptive era as it should be.