eHEALTH BEFORE AND DURING COVID-19: DOES DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMATOLOGY INFLUENCE ATTITUDES OF CAD PATIENTS, HEALTHCARE STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS?

BACKGROUND

This study aims to clarify CAD patients' attitudes towards telemedicine-and-telecare before and after the pandemic and to compare views with those of healthcare students and professionals (doctors), while taking into consideration the influence of depressive symptomatology.

METHODS

All participants completed a modified version of the Information Technology Attitude Scales for Health (ITASH), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-CES-D and a demographics questionnaire.

RESULTS

All three groups showed statistically significant more positive views towards eHealth in the retest condition on all questions. CAD patients held the least positive views compared to healthcare students and professionals in both time points. The majority of the participants from all three groups reported that since their initial examination they still lacked educational experience regarding eHealth. Depressive symptomatology was found not to have an influence on eHealth reports.

CONCLUSIONS

eHealth plays an important role both in prevention, treatment and care, but attitudes may act as an obstacle in using them. Future research should further investigate in more depth the complex influence of additional sociocultural and/or psychological factors for the reported differences.