Beyond COVID-19: Prospect of telemedicine for obstetrics patients in Pakistan

To explore obstetrics patients' experiences with telemedicine during COVID-19 and assess their intent for its future use.

An exploratory design was applied considering that telemedicine was a new phenomenon in Pakistan particularly for antenatal care services during COVID-19.

Primary data was collected through a telephonic survey of 132 respondents randomly selected from the pool of obstetrics patients who used telemedicine services of Shifa International Hospital (SIH) in Islamabad, Pakistan during the pandemic. We changed the survey tool of Medical Group Management Association to the study purpose. Required information included the respondents' socioeconomic and antenatal characteristics and their telemedicine use experience on four parameters, namely, Appointment, Staff Attitude, Communication, and Telemedicine Services. Patients were inquired about their intent to use telemedicine beyond COVID-19 and the reasons supporting their answer. The data was analyzed descriptively and through t-test mean comparisons and binary logistic regression.

Majority (54%) intend to use telemedicine in future. Average age of respondents was 30 years with gravidity 2.36, parity 1.40 and gestational amenorrhea 27.3 weeks. The respondents average schooling was 9.5 years, marriage duration was 4.5 years and monthly household income was PKR ∼83,000. However, the overall experience of those who were confident in future use of telemedicine was 0.677 points higher and significantly different than those who were not inclined to use it in future. Of those lacking interest in future use of telemedicine, nearly two-third felt in-person visit was more satisfying, 11% needed physical examination, ∼6% experienced long waiting time, 5% each had inadequate access to ICT and online payment facilities, and 6% faced other issues such as excess payments. The binary logistic regression analysis (R2 37.3%) held Medical Consultations and Communications as the most important determinants and could predict nearly two-fifth of variation in respondents' intent for future use of telemedicine.

Uptake of telemedicine for obstetrics patients is one of the positive externalities of COVID-19 and may appear as a cost-effective and culturally acceptable way to ensure universal coverage of antenatal care in Pakistan. However, telemedicine's future beyond COVID-19 for obstetrics hinges upon improving users' experience primarily through consultant and staff trainings and provision of effective communication e.g., in regional languages. Besides, offering physical examination facility and ability to use mobile wallet payment solutions may motivate future use of telemedicine in obstetrics.