Telemedicine Practice and Perceived Skills Among Primary Healthcare Physicians in the Riyadh Second Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background and Aims: Telemedicine is increasingly being adopted by primary care professionals in Saudi Arabia, necessitating the development of new skills and approaches in this field. The aim of this study is to evaluate the utilization and perceived skills of primary care physicians in telemedicine within the Riyadh Second Health Cluster in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among physicians using a self-administered electronic questionnaire from April to October 2022. The questionnaire, developed by the research team, encompassed socio-demographic information, prior experience and future intentions regarding telemedicine, and perceived proficiency using a 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics, frequencies, percentages, and statistical tests (Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests) were employed for data analysis, with a significance level of p<0.05. Results: A total of 130 valid responses were received, with an average age of 40.6. Most participants reported prior experience with telemedicine (74.6%), with Sehhaty (36.2%) and Anat (23.8%) being the most frequently utilized applications, while telephone and email (4.6%) were used the least. The intention to adopt telemedicine in the future was high, at 86.2%. The perceived confidence in utilizing telemedicine skills was generally high among the surveyed physicians. Conclusions: The study revealed that primary care physicians possessed a high level of telemedicine practice and confidence in their teleconsultation abilities. This presents an opportunity to advance care delivery models based on telemedicine technology. The widespread use of Sehhaty and Anat indicates increasing acceptance of telemedicine among the population, underscoring the need for expert support to meet the expected demand.