Perception of the patients and providers regarding telehealth service of disabled people’s organization (DPO) through centre for the rehabilitation of the paralysed (CRP)

Abstract

Telemedicine is a growing concern in Bangladesh nowadays. About 80% of Bangladeshi resides in countryside with unequal distribution of physicians and healthcare facilities and most of them are from poor household. Thus the health outcomes for people living in rural locations are generally worse than urban areas. In these circumstances telemedicine could be the best way as it can provide better health care by using maximum utilization of limited resources. To extend medical services including physiotherapy and occupational therapy among the people with disabilities of the rural remote areas of Bangladesh, CRP has been operating telehealth service since 2014 with the collaboration of local DPO’s situated in different districts, villages and remote areas of Bangladesh with a multidisciplinary team. The aim of the study was to explore the patients and providers perception regarding telehealth service provided from local DPO’s by CRP. Identification of barriers, limitations, benefits and improvement suggestions of the respective service were the main objectives of this study. It was a descriptive cross- sectional study. A total of 72 patients and 20 providers took part in the study. Self administrative semi structured questionnaire were filled up by the providers from CRP while other data was collected either by face to face or cell phone interview. The finding from the patients indicates that, they are moderately satisfied by the telemedicine service. Effective advice, economic saving and reduced travel time were identified as the most frequent benefits of telemedicine services from the patient’s side whereas computer/electricity and network disturbance were highlighted as problems during session. Face to face consultancy was in the priority zone and publicity enhancement was one of the major concerns observed among the patients’ opinion. Besides, patients emphasized on therapy and medicine facility within the DPO’s as well. On the other hand, Providers both from CRP and DPO’s reported problem during service encounter; particularly network disturbance. The providers (DPO’s) perspectives for service improvement focused particularly on improvement of financial budget, installation & increase of modern equipments, enhance publicity and salary and improvement of internet facilities. Alternatively, the CRP providers especially pointed on improvement of internet facility, awareness program and increase of training programs for all providers. Finally it can be said that, telemedicine could be a promising revolutionize of current healthcare system to reach the underserved remote rural patients but need to address both the patient’s and provider’s requirements to flourish the service.