Exploring the Perception and Knowledge of Telemedicine Among Healthcare Practitioners in Islamabad/Rawalpindi

Abstract

The healthcare system in Islamabad/Rawalpindi is embracing technological advancements such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and telemedicine, leading to an evolution in healthcare delivery. However, rural areas in Pakistan encounter numerous challenges in accessing quality healthcare services due to inadequate infrastructure. The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized the urgent need for telemedicine to bridge these gaps. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the knowledge, perception and willingness to adopt telemedicine among doctors in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, with the goal of informing policy and enhancing healthcare delivery. Existing data on telemedicine adoption in Pakistan, particularly after the outbreak of COVID-19, is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to address this gap by examining the knowledge, perception, and willingness of healthcare professionals to integrate telemedicine into their practice. This work attempted to determine the perception and knowledge of telemedicine among health practitioners and their readiness to practice telemedicine in Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Pakistan. A cross-sectional study was conducted among five major hospital doctors in Rawalpindi/Islamabad with the help of a questionnaire survey which was later analysed through SPSS. Demographic analysis of 120 healthcare practitioners in Islamabad/Rawalpindi showed a diverse sample, predominantly aged 31-40 years (44.6%) and female (57.9%). Most respondents were doctors (36.4%) or specialists (31.4%). Analysis revealed moderate to high levels of knowledge, perception, and willingness towards telemedicine adoption. While practitioners demonstrated familiarity with telemedicine technology and its medical applications, awareness of guidelines and tools was limited. Perceptions were largely positive, with strong agreement on telemedicine's viability and role in healthcare. The mean scores for knowledge (11.92), perception (4.04), and willingness (4.25) indicated overall acceptance of telemedicine. Practitioners showed good knowledge (24%) and positive perception (76%), with high willingness (77.7%) to adopt telemedicine.