Knowledge and Perception of Physicians Towards Telemedicine Technology in Hospitals in Libya

Abstract

Telemedicine technology has witnessed an increasing interest in healthcare institutions to provide health services to patients during outbreaks of epidemics due to the precautionary measures taken by many countries around the world. Many patients received ongoing, regular telemonitoring from their healthcare providers. However, the success of telemedicine is highly dependent on physicians' acceptance. Despite all the benefits associated with the use of this technology and its applications, it is not given the required consideration in Libyan health institutions. This paper explores physicians' knowledge and perceptions of telemedicine technology in hospitals. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge possessed by physicians regarding telemedicine and their perceptions of its use in hospital settings. A survey was conducted for physicians working in a private Libyan hospital, where the sample used in the study was 60, and the questionnaire was distributed to them. The results of the study showed that (70.4%) of the physicians know about telemedicine, although they are not familiar with its applications, as they did not attend introductory lectures on telemedicine in their workplaces. The results provided insights into the current understanding and attitudes of clinicians towards telemedicine technology, which can guide strategies for its effective integration into healthcare systems. However, the results indicated some potential barriers when using telemedicine, including the need for training, poor infrastructure, financial issues, and lack of human resources to operate the equipment, which negatively affects the application of telemedicine in Libyan hospitals.