Utilization and Perception of Telemedicine among Orthopedic Surgeons.

Introduction: Telemedicine has been a growing trend. Its use in the field of orthopedic surgery has its own unique facets. To determine the perception and assess the utilization of telemedicine the current study was conducted.

Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional exploratory study conducted from January to April 2022 among 142 orthopedic surgeons across India who had previous experience of using telemedicine and were willing to participate in this study. The data was collected using a validated semi-structured questionnaire consisting of 44 multiple Choice questions, divided into 7 sections: experience in using telemedicine, technical aspects, patient selection, problems faced, benefits, current use, and opinions designed in English language. The data obtained from the responses were tabulated, analyzed and expressed in proportions.

Results: We found that nearly 80% of orthopedic surgeons believed that teleconsultation was most appropriate for follow up visits. The two most common issues faced were technical issues relating to poor video/audio/connectivity, and difficulty with regard to viewing of radiographs, MRI films etc. The major advantage was perceived to be easier access for patients, especially bed ridden/old patients.

Conclusion: Our survey showed a significantly positive response toward telemedicine. Technical issues and lack of clinical examination were cited as the most common hindrances faced. Saving the time of the patient, and easier access to healthcare for old aged individuals, bed ridden patients and individuals in remote areas were the major perceived benefits.