Virtual care and COVID-19: A survey study of adoption, satisfaction and continuing education preferences of healthcare providers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
IntroductionVirtual care has expanded during COVID-19 and enabled continued access to healthcare services. For many healthcare providers, the adoption of virtual care has been a new experience in the provision of healthcare services. The purpose of this survey study was to explore healthcare provide...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:3c1325fd67d54860a118f6a07b36eb3f 2023-05-15T17:22:03+02:00 Virtual care and COVID-19: A survey study of adoption, satisfaction and continuing education preferences of healthcare providers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Vernon R. Curran Ann Hollett Emily Peddle 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2022.970112 https://doaj.org/article/3c1325fd67d54860a118f6a07b36eb3f EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2022.970112/full https://doaj.org/toc/2673-253X 2673-253X doi:10.3389/fdgth.2022.970112 https://doaj.org/article/3c1325fd67d54860a118f6a07b36eb3f Frontiers in Digital Health, Vol 4 (2023) virtual care survey healthcare providers satisfaction confidence digital professionalism continuing professional development Medicine R Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Electronic computers. Computer science QA75.5-76.95 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2022.970112 2023-01-29T01:28:54Z IntroductionVirtual care has expanded during COVID-19 and enabled continued access to healthcare services. For many healthcare providers, the adoption of virtual care has been a new experience in the provision of healthcare services. The purpose of this survey study was to explore healthcare providers' experiences with virtual care during COVID-19.MethodsA web-based survey-questionnaire was developed by applying Rogers' theory of diffusion of innovation and distributed to healthcare providers (physicians, nurses and allied health professionals) in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada to explore virtual care experiences, satisfaction and continuing professional development (CPD) needs. Analyses included descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of survey responses.ResultsFifty-one percent of respondents (n = 432) indicated they were currently offering virtual care and a majority (68.9%) reported it has improved their work experience. Telephone appointments were preferred over videoconferencing by respondents, with key challenges including the inability to conduct a physical exam, patients' cell phone services being unreliable and patients knowing how to use videoconferencing. Majority of respondents (57.5%) reported quality of care by telephone was lower than in-person, whereas quality of care by videoconferencing was equivalent to in-person. Main benefits of virtual care included increased patient access, ability to work from home, and reduction in no-show appointments. Key supports for adopting virtual care included in-house organizational supports (e.g., technical support staff), local colleague support, and technology training. Important topics for virtual care CPD included complying with regulatory standards/rules, understanding privacy or ethical boundaries, and developing competency and digital professionalism while engaging in virtual care.DiscussionBeyond the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual care will have a continuing role in enhancing continuity of care through access that is more convenient. Survey findings ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Newfoundland Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Newfoundland Canada Frontiers in Digital Health 4 |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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English |
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virtual care survey healthcare providers satisfaction confidence digital professionalism continuing professional development Medicine R Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Electronic computers. Computer science QA75.5-76.95 |
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virtual care survey healthcare providers satisfaction confidence digital professionalism continuing professional development Medicine R Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Electronic computers. Computer science QA75.5-76.95 Vernon R. Curran Ann Hollett Emily Peddle Virtual care and COVID-19: A survey study of adoption, satisfaction and continuing education preferences of healthcare providers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
topic_facet |
virtual care survey healthcare providers satisfaction confidence digital professionalism continuing professional development Medicine R Public aspects of medicine RA1-1270 Electronic computers. Computer science QA75.5-76.95 |
description |
IntroductionVirtual care has expanded during COVID-19 and enabled continued access to healthcare services. For many healthcare providers, the adoption of virtual care has been a new experience in the provision of healthcare services. The purpose of this survey study was to explore healthcare providers' experiences with virtual care during COVID-19.MethodsA web-based survey-questionnaire was developed by applying Rogers' theory of diffusion of innovation and distributed to healthcare providers (physicians, nurses and allied health professionals) in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada to explore virtual care experiences, satisfaction and continuing professional development (CPD) needs. Analyses included descriptive statistics and thematic analysis of survey responses.ResultsFifty-one percent of respondents (n = 432) indicated they were currently offering virtual care and a majority (68.9%) reported it has improved their work experience. Telephone appointments were preferred over videoconferencing by respondents, with key challenges including the inability to conduct a physical exam, patients' cell phone services being unreliable and patients knowing how to use videoconferencing. Majority of respondents (57.5%) reported quality of care by telephone was lower than in-person, whereas quality of care by videoconferencing was equivalent to in-person. Main benefits of virtual care included increased patient access, ability to work from home, and reduction in no-show appointments. Key supports for adopting virtual care included in-house organizational supports (e.g., technical support staff), local colleague support, and technology training. Important topics for virtual care CPD included complying with regulatory standards/rules, understanding privacy or ethical boundaries, and developing competency and digital professionalism while engaging in virtual care.DiscussionBeyond the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual care will have a continuing role in enhancing continuity of care through access that is more convenient. Survey findings ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Vernon R. Curran Ann Hollett Emily Peddle |
author_facet |
Vernon R. Curran Ann Hollett Emily Peddle |
author_sort |
Vernon R. Curran |
title |
Virtual care and COVID-19: A survey study of adoption, satisfaction and continuing education preferences of healthcare providers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
title_short |
Virtual care and COVID-19: A survey study of adoption, satisfaction and continuing education preferences of healthcare providers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
title_full |
Virtual care and COVID-19: A survey study of adoption, satisfaction and continuing education preferences of healthcare providers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
title_fullStr |
Virtual care and COVID-19: A survey study of adoption, satisfaction and continuing education preferences of healthcare providers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
title_full_unstemmed |
Virtual care and COVID-19: A survey study of adoption, satisfaction and continuing education preferences of healthcare providers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada |
title_sort |
virtual care and covid-19: a survey study of adoption, satisfaction and continuing education preferences of healthcare providers in newfoundland and labrador, canada |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2022.970112 https://doaj.org/article/3c1325fd67d54860a118f6a07b36eb3f |
geographic |
Newfoundland Canada |
geographic_facet |
Newfoundland Canada |
genre |
Newfoundland |
genre_facet |
Newfoundland |
op_source |
Frontiers in Digital Health, Vol 4 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2022.970112/full https://doaj.org/toc/2673-253X 2673-253X doi:10.3389/fdgth.2022.970112 https://doaj.org/article/3c1325fd67d54860a118f6a07b36eb3f |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2022.970112 |
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Frontiers in Digital Health |
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4 |
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