Endocrinologists' Experiences With Telehealth: A Qualitative Study With Implications for Promoting Sustained Use

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Telehealth
• Digital Health

Background:

• Telehealth offers significant benefits in endocrinology.
• Sustained telehealth adoption hinges on clinician attitudes post-pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• Examine endocrinologists' experiences with synchronous telehealth.
• Identify factors influencing telehealth acceptance and use.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interviews with 26 U.S. endocrinologists.
• Directed content analysis using the human-organization-technology fit framework.

Main Results:

• Clinician factors: Concerns about rapport, clinical appropriateness, and missing findings; mixed impact on work-life balance.
• Organizational factors: Training and workflow adjustments improved experiences; mixed schedules hindered use.
• Technology factors: Video preferred over phone; platform usability, data integration, and IT support were key.

Conclusions:

• Clinician acceptance is multifactorial (clinician, organization, technology).
• Addressing these factors is crucial for organizational leaders to foster telehealth buy-in.
• Continued telehealth provision supports endocrinology patient care.