An intervention research about telemedicine human factor: healthcare professionals and patients’ perspectives and satisfaction

Background: Exploring physicians' and patients' acceptability and satisfaction with telemedicine services is essential to focus on the "human factor" (e.g. emotional components, communication) that characterised these innovative ways to provide healthcare services. The project main goals are: to consider healthcare professionals’ predisposition and perspectives to tailor telemedicine over their needs; to monitor teleconsultation functioning and professionals and patients' satisfaction. Methods: A mixed-methods approach will be adopted. Focus groups with physicians and healthcare professionals will be conducted to investigate their perception, resistances, and perceived difficulties concerning telemedicine as well as to monitor changes in their predisposition over time. Within the first six months of telemedicine implementation, questionnaires will be administered to physicians and patients after each teleconsultation to investigate their satisfaction. Expected results: The involvement of teleconsultation recipients, namely healthcare professionals, doctors, and patients, and the longitudinal monitoring would allow to improve their predisposition and satisfaction, thanks to the adjustments made over time. Current stage of work: At present, participants recruitment and focus group organisation are in progress. By April, it is expected to conduct focus groups; through March and July, questionnaires data will be collected; the end of analysis is expected by the first half of August. Discussion: Adopting a conscious and useful methodological framework will allow physicians and healthcare professionals to work in a state of organizational well-being and health; patients, in turn, will benefit from this in terms of treatment positivity. Additionally, the psychological, social, and cultural components will be integrated in the implementation of the telemedicine model.