Changes in provider attitudes toward telemedicine

A longitudinal study was conducted in which the pre- and post-telemedicine encounter attitudes of healthcare providers were compared in order to ascertain whether and how experience with telemedicine changes their attitudes toward telemedicine. Attitudinal changes of providers who had used telemedicine previously were compared to those experiencing telemedicine for the first time. Data were gathered from the providers in two telemedicine programs located in Georgia and Nebraska. Both used real-time videoconferencing and peripheral devices to conduct telemedicine consultations. A total of 87 providers completed questionnaires just prior to and immediately after each telemedicine encounter in their respective programs. The questions focused on the expected impact of telemedicine on their productivity and ability to prescribe treatment. A 3-point scale was used to measure the responses. More than three quarters (79.3%) of the providers did not change their attitudes subsequent to the use of telemedicine. There was no significant difference between first-time users and those who had experience (p = 0.392). The shift in attitude in the minority (n = 18) of providers who did change their minds after the telemedicine encounter was more positive among those who used telemedicine for the first time as compared to those with experience. Contrariwise, those with experience became more negative (p = 0.025). This finding suggests that experience with telemedicine results in more positive attitudes that may not be realized in subsequent interactions with the technology.