Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Hong Kong Med J. 2023 Oct;29(5):412-420. doi: 10.12809/hkmj219747. Epub 2023 Oct 5.
Telemedicine services worldwide have experienced unprecedented growth since the early days of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Multiple studies have shown that telemedicine is an effective alternative to conventional in-person patient care. This study explored the public perception of telemedicine in Hong Kong, specifically among older adults who are most vulnerable to COVID-19.
Medical students from The Chinese University of Hong Kong conducted in-person surveys of older adults aged ≥60 years. Each survey collected socio-demographic information, medical history, and concerns regarding telemedicine use. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify statistically significant associations. The primary outcomes were acceptance of telemedicine use during a hypothetical severe outbreak and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
There were 109 survey respondents. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the expectation of government subsidies for telemedicine services was the strongest common driver and the only positive independent predictor of telemedicine use during a hypothetical severe outbreak (P=0.016) and after the COVID-19 pandemic (P=0.003). No negative independent predictors of telemedicine use during a hypothetical severe outbreak were identified. Negative independent predictors of telemedicine use after the COVID-19 pandemic included older age and residence in the New Territories (both P=0.001).
Government support, such as telemedicine-specific subsidies, will be important for efforts to promote telemedicine use in Hong Kong during future severe outbreaks and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Robust dissemination of information regarding the advantages and disadvantages of telemedicine for the public, especially older adults, is needed.
自 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）大流行早期以来，全球的远程医疗服务经历了前所未有的增长。多项研究表明，远程医疗是传统面对面患者护理的有效替代方法。本研究探讨了香港公众对远程医疗的看法，特别是在最容易感染 COVID-19 的老年人中。
香港中文大学的医学生对年龄≥60 岁的老年人进行了面对面调查。每个调查都收集了社会人口统计学信息、病史以及对远程医疗使用的关注。进行了单变量和多变量逻辑回归分析，以确定具有统计学意义的关联。主要结果是在假设的严重疫情爆发期间和 COVID-19 大流行后接受远程医疗使用。
共有 109 名调查受访者。多变量逻辑回归分析显示，对远程医疗服务的政府补贴的期望是最强的共同驱动因素，也是假设的严重疫情爆发期间（P=0.016）和 COVID-19 大流行后（P=0.003）远程医疗使用的唯一正独立预测因素。在假设的严重疫情爆发期间，没有发现远程医疗使用的负独立预测因素。COVID-19 大流行后远程医疗使用的负独立预测因素包括年龄较大和居住在新界（均 P=0.001）。
政府支持，例如针对远程医疗的具体补贴，将对未来严重疫情爆发期间和 COVID-19 大流行后在香港推广远程医疗使用非常重要。需要向公众，特别是老年人，广泛传播有关远程医疗的优缺点的信息。
