Abstract

Introduction: Teleconsultation is a feasible method of delivering health care due to its convenience and accessibility. This paper aims to study the perceptions on teleconsultation among adults from general population in South India. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 230 adults residing in South India who had access to smart phones. A validated pretested online questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants regarding their perceptions. Likert scale to grade their experiences on tele-consultation if they have used any or if not, the reason as to why they haven’t. Results: Out of the 230 study participants, 42.6% had availed tele-consultation facility at least once. Voice phone calls as the main mode of consultation (34.3%). Out of the 98 participants who had used teleconsultation, ease of access healthcare (63.7%), comfort (74.4%), effectiveness (78.7%), ease of communication (72.4%), simplicity for use (81.6%), clarity of communication (81.6%) and reliability (62.2%) were the common perceptions of the study participants. More than half the study participants (132; 57.4%) had never used teleconsultation. Common reasons for not using teleconsultation was lack of perceived need (87.5%), preference for face to face consultation, lack of awareness (28%), lack of trust (21.9%) and lack of clarity on legal issues involved (12.1). Half (46.2%) of those who had never used teleconsultation reported that they would have used teleconsultation If proper education on its usage were to be provided. Conclusion: Teleconsultation is an accepted method of seeking health consultation among the general population. While some people still prefer face to face consultation over teleconsultation, those who used the mode of teleconsultation were able to meet their health care needs. Proper education on the usage of teleconsultation and necessary digital developments in the needed.

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