The Determinants of the Usability of Telephone-Based Remote Physician Visits

Remote physician visits have been commonly used in Poland since the COVID-19 pandemic. Society's opinions about their usability were rarely assessed systematically. The study's main aim was to assess determinants of the usability of telephone-based remote physician visits. The analysis was based on the data originating from a web-based survey performed in June 2023 on 1661 adult Internet users. The Telehealth Usability (TU) Questionnaire adjusted to the specificity of telephone-based remote interaction was applied. TU score was used as the dependent variable in a multivariate linear regression model with e-health literacy (eHL) and technology anxiety (TA) scores, as well as sociodemographic and health-related variables as independent variables. The model revealed that eHL, TA, age, and education level, but not self-assessed health status and the prevalence of chronic disease, show a significant relationship with TU score. In conclusion, implementing e-health and telemedicine solutions should be accompanied by measures to increase eHL and ameliorate TA in society.