Use and acceptance of video consultation among adults insured by statutory health insurance provider in Germany: A nationwide online survey.

IF 1.4 Q4 HEALTH POLICY & SERVICES Zeitschrift fur Evidenz Fortbildung und Qualitaet im Gesundheitswesen Pub Date : 2025-01-22 DOI:10.1016/j.zefq.2024.12.008

Saskia Muellmann, Karina Karolina De Santis, Hermann Pohlabeln, Hajo Zeeb

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Abstract

Introduction: The increasing digitalization of the healthcare system makes it possible to provide medical services using digital technologies without direct patient-provider contact. This study aimed to investigate 1) the use and acceptance of video consultation and 2) factors associated with the use of video consultation.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in February 2023. Overall, 20,000 adults insured at a statutory health insurance company in Germany (10,000 users and 10,000 non-users of video consultation) were invited by email to an online survey with 31 items. The items addressed use and acceptance of digital health services with a focus on video consultation, digital health literacy and sociodemographic characteristics. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and factors associated with video consultation use were assessed using binary logistic regression.

Results: Among the 1657 participants, 686 were users and 971 were non-users of video consultation. The participants were aged between 18 and 80 years (M ± SD: 44 ± 13 years), 55% were female, 59% reported a medium subjective socioeconomic status, and 69% a good to very good health status. Video consultation were predominantly used following physician recommendations (71%) as part of general medical care (50%). The main reasons for using video consultation were time saving (93%) and flexibility in terms of location (87%). Most video consultation users felt well cared-for during video consulting (93%), would use it again (95%), and would recommend it to others (93%). Factors associated with video consultation use were age from 30 to 49 years, high subjective socioeconomic status, high digital health litercay, and very poor to moderate health status.

Conclusion: The acceptance of video consultations in this study was high. Advantages and barriers to offering video consultations from a physician perspective should be investigated to incorporate video consultations in everyday medical practice.

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