Quebec population and telehealth: a survey on knowledge and perceptions

Telehealth is widely considered to be a promising tool that addresses many of the challenges currently facing the health care system in Canada. However, diffusion of telehealth will ultimately depend on its acceptance among health care professionals and the general population. This study explores public understanding and perceptions of telehealth in the Province of Quebec (Canada). A telephone survey involving interviews with a random sample of 1242 individuals was conducted in various Quebec regions. Only 8.9% of respondents were familiar with the term "telehealth," whereas telehealth applications, especially teletriage, appeared to be more commonly known. A large majority of respondents believed telehealth could facilitate access to health care services, improve quality of care, and reduce health care expenditures. Legal responsibility in cases of medical error was reported as the leading public concern related to telehealth. Furthermore, nearly 50% of Quebec's population would use telehealth services when offered to them. The principal factors weighing in favor of willingness to use telehealth services were: knowledge of telehealth applications perception of telehealth benefits, reduced barriers to telehealth, and the fact of being female. Promoting the use of telehealth in the general population and dissipating concerns related to its applications will require global educational strategy that will inform the public about the benefits of telehealth as well as addressing ethical and legal issues.