Research Article

The Effect of Healthcare Professionals’ Digital Literacy and Knowledge of Telemedicine on Perception of Telemedicine

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Dilek Şahin Serhat Fırat Nurcan Gezici

https://doi.org/10.31201/ijhmt.1326835

Abstract

Objective: The objective is to determine levels of digital literacy, knowledge and perception of telemedicine, becoming important with innovations in communication and information technologies, and to reveal correlations between them. In addition, the effect of telemedicine experience on the perception of telemedicine constitutes another purpose of this study.
Method: In the study, data was collected cross-sectionally, via on-line and face-to-face surveys. 334 healthcare workers from one tertiary and two second-line hospitals were included in the study. For data analysis, structural validity of items was evaluated. Item reliability was evaluated by calculating Cronbach’s alpha internal consistency coefficient. Correlations between variables were tested with structural equation model. To determine differences between groups, two sample t-tests were used.
Findings: Results of Structural Equation Model showed a positive correlation between digital literacy and knowledge of telemedicine, and between knowledge of telemedicine and perception of telemedicine. Knowledge of telemedicine was found to mediate the relationship between digital literacy and perception of telemedicine. In this study, perception of telemedicine (x̄= 3.392) and digital literacy level (x̄= 3.527) were found to be above average, while knowledge of telemedicine was found to be below average (x̄= 2.090). Perception of telemedicine was found to increase positively in participants with telemedicine experience (t(332) = 4.979, p<0.05).
Conclusion: The importance of digital literacy and knowledge of telemedicine is revealed in creating positive perception in healthcare professionals about the use of telemedicine. For the success of telemedicine applications, it may be recommended to include these topics in training programs for healthcare professionals.

Keywords

Digital Literacy Perception of Telemedicine Knowledge of Telemedicine Healthcare Professionals

References

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  • Albarrak, A. I., Mohammed, R., Almarshoud, N., Almujalli, L., Aljaeed, R., Altuwaijiri, S., & Albohairy, T. (2021). Assessment of physician’s knowledge, perception and willingness of telemedicine in Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 14(1), 97–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiph.2019.04.006.
  • Brown, J., Morgan, A., Mason, J., Pope, N., & Bosco, A. M. (2020). Student Nurses’ Digital Literacy Levels. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 38(9), 451–458. https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000000615.
  • Browne, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1992). Alternative Ways of Assessing Model Fit. Sociological Methods & Research, 21(2), 230–258. https://doi.org/10.1177/0049124192021002005.
  • Büyüköztürk, Ş., Kılıç Çakmak, E., Akgün, Ö. E., & Karadeniz, Ş. (2016). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri (Scientific research methods) (20th ed.). Ankara: Pegem Publishing.
  • Chin, W. W., Gopal, A., & Salisbury, W. D. (1997). Advancing the Theory of Adaptive Structuration: The Development of a Scale to Measure Faithfulness of Appropriation. Information Systems Research, 8(4), 342–367. https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.8.4.342.
  • Cilliers, L., & Flowerday, S. (2014). User acceptance of telemedicine by health care workers a case of the Eastern cape province, South Africa. EJISDC, 65(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1681-4835.2014.tb00467.x.
  • De la Hoz, A., Cubero, J., Melo, L., Durán-Vinagre, M. A., & Sánchez, S. (2021). Analysis of Digital Literacy in Health through Active University Teaching. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12), 6674. Dilbaz, B., Kaplanoğlu, M., & Kaya Kaplanoğlu, D. (2020). Teletıp ve telesağlık: Geçmiş, bugün ve gelecek (Telemedicine and telehealth: past, today and future abstract). Eurasian Journal of Health Technology Assessment: EHTA, 4(1), 40–56.
  • Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating Structural Equation Models with Unobservable Variables and Measurement Error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.2307/3151312.
  • Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate Data Analysis: A Global Perspective (7th ed.). Pearson, NJ.
  • Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118.
  • Kılıç, T., & Tosun, N. (2021). Akıllı Sağlık Ekosistemi ve Güncel Uygulama Örnekleri (Smart health ecosystem and current application examples). JOBS, 9(3), 543–564. https://doi.org/10.22139/jobs.1019007.
  • Kuek, A., & Hakkennes, S. (2020). Healthcare staff digital literacy levels and their attitudes towards information systems. Health Informatics Journal, 26(1), 592–612. https://doi.org/10.1177/1460458219839613.
  • Lovett, J. E., & Bashshur, R. L. (1979). Telemedicine in the USA. Telecommunications Policy, 3(1), 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/0308-5961(79)90019-3.
  • MacLure, K., & Stewart, D. (2018). A qualitative case study of ehealth and digital literacy experiences of pharmacy staff. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 14(6), 555–563.
  • Muslu, Ü., Demir, E., Kör, H., & Şenel, E. (2019). Multidisipliner Teletıp Uygulaması: Cerrahi Öncesi Telecerrahi Tanılarının Histopatoloji İle Karşılaştırılması (A Multidisciplinary Telemedicine Application: Comparison of Preoperative Telesurgery Diagnoses with Histopathology). Dicle Med J, 46, 289–298.
  • Ng, W. (2012). Can we teach digital natives digital literacy? Computers & Education, 59(3), 1065–1078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.04.016.
  • Özyürek Ucael, D., Özden, M., Altıntaş, E., & Aslan, D. (2021). Halk sağlığı bakış açısıyla teletıp uygulamaları (Telemedicine in public health perspective). Turk J Public Health,19(3), 295–303.
  • Piau, A., Vautier, C., De Mauleon, A., Tchalla, A., Rumeau, P., Nourhashemi, F., & Soto-Martin, M. (2020). Health workers perception on telemedicine in management of neuropsychiatric symptoms in long-term care facilities: Two years follow-up. Geriatric Nursing, 41(6), 1000–1005.
  • Schermelleh-Engel, K., Moosbrugger, H., & Müller, H. (2003). Evaluating the fit of structural equation models: Tests of significance and descriptive goodness-of-fit measures. MPR-Online, 8(2), 23–74.
  • T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı. (2022). Teleradyoloji nedir? https://teleradyoloji.saglik.gov.tr/#service.
  • Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2013). Using Multivariate Statistics. (Sixth). Boston: Pearson.
  • Uzaktan Sağlık Hizmetlerinin Sunumu Hakkında Yönetmelik. (2022). Resmi Gazete. https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2022/02/20220210-2.htm.
  • Üstündağ, M. T., & Güneş, E. (2017). Dijital okuryazarlık ölçeğinin türkçeye uyarlanması ve fen bilgisi öğretmen adaylarının dijital okuryazarlık durumları (Turkish adaptation of digital literacy scale and ınvestigating pre-service science teachers’ digital literacy). Journal of Education and Future, 12, 19–29.
  • Voran, D. (2015). Telemedicine and Beyond. Science of Medicine, 112(2), 129–135.
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6170053/pdf/ms112_p0129.pdf.
  • WHO. (2019). WHO releases first guideline on digital health interventions. https://www.who.int/news/item/17-04-2019-who-releases-first-guideline-on-digital-health-interventions.

-

Dilek Şahin Serhat Fırat Nurcan Gezici

https://doi.org/10.31201/ijhmt.1326835

Abstract

References

  • Ajami, S., & BagheriTadi, T. (2013). Barriers for Adopting Electronic Health Records (EHRs) by Physicians. Acta Informatica Medica, 21(2), 129. https://doi.org/10.5455/aim.2013.21.129-134.
  • Albarrak, A. I., Mohammed, R., Almarshoud, N., Almujalli, L., Aljaeed, R., Altuwaijiri, S., & Albohairy, T. (2021). Assessment of physician’s knowledge, perception and willingness of telemedicine in Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 14(1), 97–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiph.2019.04.006.
  • Brown, J., Morgan, A., Mason, J., Pope, N., & Bosco, A. M. (2020). Student Nurses’ Digital Literacy Levels. CIN: Computers, Informatics, Nursing, 38(9), 451–458. https://doi.org/10.1097/CIN.0000000000000615.
  • Browne, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1992). Alternative Ways of Assessing Model Fit. Sociological Methods & Research, 21(2), 230–258. https://doi.org/10.1177/0049124192021002005.
  • Büyüköztürk, Ş., Kılıç Çakmak, E., Akgün, Ö. E., & Karadeniz, Ş. (2016). Bilimsel araştırma yöntemleri (Scientific research methods) (20th ed.). Ankara: Pegem Publishing.
  • Chin, W. W., Gopal, A., & Salisbury, W. D. (1997). Advancing the Theory of Adaptive Structuration: The Development of a Scale to Measure Faithfulness of Appropriation. Information Systems Research, 8(4), 342–367. https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.8.4.342.
  • Cilliers, L., & Flowerday, S. (2014). User acceptance of telemedicine by health care workers a case of the Eastern cape province, South Africa. EJISDC, 65(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1681-4835.2014.tb00467.x.
  • De la Hoz, A., Cubero, J., Melo, L., Durán-Vinagre, M. A., & Sánchez, S. (2021). Analysis of Digital Literacy in Health through Active University Teaching. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(12), 6674. Dilbaz, B., Kaplanoğlu, M., & Kaya Kaplanoğlu, D. (2020). Teletıp ve telesağlık: Geçmiş, bugün ve gelecek (Telemedicine and telehealth: past, today and future abstract). Eurasian Journal of Health Technology Assessment: EHTA, 4(1), 40–56.
  • Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating Structural Equation Models with Unobservable Variables and Measurement Error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.2307/3151312.
  • Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate Data Analysis: A Global Perspective (7th ed.). Pearson, NJ.
  • Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118.
  • Kılıç, T., & Tosun, N. (2021). Akıllı Sağlık Ekosistemi ve Güncel Uygulama Örnekleri (Smart health ecosystem and current application examples). JOBS, 9(3), 543–564. https://doi.org/10.22139/jobs.1019007.
  • Kuek, A., & Hakkennes, S. (2020). Healthcare staff digital literacy levels and their attitudes towards information systems. Health Informatics Journal, 26(1), 592–612. https://doi.org/10.1177/1460458219839613.
  • Lovett, J. E., & Bashshur, R. L. (1979). Telemedicine in the USA. Telecommunications Policy, 3(1), 3–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/0308-5961(79)90019-3.
  • MacLure, K., & Stewart, D. (2018). A qualitative case study of ehealth and digital literacy experiences of pharmacy staff. Research in Social and Administrative Pharmacy, 14(6), 555–563.
  • Muslu, Ü., Demir, E., Kör, H., & Şenel, E. (2019). Multidisipliner Teletıp Uygulaması: Cerrahi Öncesi Telecerrahi Tanılarının Histopatoloji İle Karşılaştırılması (A Multidisciplinary Telemedicine Application: Comparison of Preoperative Telesurgery Diagnoses with Histopathology). Dicle Med J, 46, 289–298.
  • Ng, W. (2012). Can we teach digital natives digital literacy? Computers & Education, 59(3), 1065–1078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.04.016.
  • Özyürek Ucael, D., Özden, M., Altıntaş, E., & Aslan, D. (2021). Halk sağlığı bakış açısıyla teletıp uygulamaları (Telemedicine in public health perspective). Turk J Public Health,19(3), 295–303.
  • Piau, A., Vautier, C., De Mauleon, A., Tchalla, A., Rumeau, P., Nourhashemi, F., & Soto-Martin, M. (2020). Health workers perception on telemedicine in management of neuropsychiatric symptoms in long-term care facilities: Two years follow-up. Geriatric Nursing, 41(6), 1000–1005.
  • Schermelleh-Engel, K., Moosbrugger, H., & Müller, H. (2003). Evaluating the fit of structural equation models: Tests of significance and descriptive goodness-of-fit measures. MPR-Online, 8(2), 23–74.
  • T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı. (2022). Teleradyoloji nedir? https://teleradyoloji.saglik.gov.tr/#service.
  • Tabachnick, B. G., & Fidell, L. S. (2013). Using Multivariate Statistics. (Sixth). Boston: Pearson.
  • Uzaktan Sağlık Hizmetlerinin Sunumu Hakkında Yönetmelik. (2022). Resmi Gazete. https://www.resmigazete.gov.tr/eskiler/2022/02/20220210-2.htm.
  • Üstündağ, M. T., & Güneş, E. (2017). Dijital okuryazarlık ölçeğinin türkçeye uyarlanması ve fen bilgisi öğretmen adaylarının dijital okuryazarlık durumları (Turkish adaptation of digital literacy scale and ınvestigating pre-service science teachers’ digital literacy). Journal of Education and Future, 12, 19–29.
  • Voran, D. (2015). Telemedicine and Beyond. Science of Medicine, 112(2), 129–135.
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6170053/pdf/ms112_p0129.pdf.
  • WHO. (2019). WHO releases first guideline on digital health interventions. https://www.who.int/news/item/17-04-2019-who-releases-first-guideline-on-digital-health-interventions.
There are 27 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Digital Health, Health Management
Authors

Dilek Şahin 0000-0003-0865-7763

Serhat Fırat 0000-0003-3934-2932

Nurcan Gezici 0000-0002-2308-5305

Publication Date
Submission Date July 13, 2023
Acceptance Date September 4, 2023

Cite

APA Şahin, D., Fırat, S., & Gezici, N. (n.d.). The Effect of Healthcare Professionals’ Digital Literacy and Knowledge of Telemedicine on Perception of Telemedicine. International Journal of Health Management and Tourism. https://doi.org/10.31201/ijhmt.1326835