Exploring the Preferences and Behavioral Trends of e-Patients in Psychosomatics Towards Telemedicine During and Post COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Analysis.

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of health services, with a growing number of psychosomatic patients turning to the internet for health-related decisions. This study explored changes in communication behavior, information-seeking habits, and post-pandemic consultation preferences among psychosomatic patients during and after COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE

This study explored changes in communication behavior, information-seeking habits, and post-pandemic consultation preferences among psychosomatic patients during and after COVID-19.

METHODS

In a cross-sectional study, 150 adult patients (>18 y) from the psychosomatic outpatient department in Tübingen, Germany, were invited to complete an ad hoc questionnaire to identify e-patients' preferences related to communication, information-seeking behavior, subjective explanations, and postpandemic preferences. Group comparisons and multiple linear regression analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

The study revealed a slight increase in online-based communication between patients and caregivers (eg, caregivers' system use +10.8%; live video consultations +30.8%), as well as in patient-patient interactions (eg, online correspondence +16.9%). Significant group differences were observed for social media correspondence by patient age (χ2¬=17.44, P<.001) and for live video consultations by gender (χ2¬=70.17, P<.001). For both age and gender, significant group differences were found in the use of medical videos (age χ2¬=6.36, P=.04; gender χ2¬=76.70, P<.001). Age, gender, and preferences for live video consultations were identified as significant predictors (F1,11=14.195, P<.001, R²=0.299) of patients' future preferences for on-site versus online consultations.

CONCLUSIONS

Although a slight increase in online-based communication was observed, resilience in patient-caregiver and patient-patient communication indicated relative stability under challenging circumstances. Older adults and female patients expressed a preference for on-site consultations, emphasizing the significance of in-person care. Male patients demonstrated greater openness towards online consultations, indicating potential for expansion of eHealth services. Identifying preferences is a core essential for providing future eHealth implementations that account for diverse patient needs and for designing care offerings. Incorporating these findings may enhance patient engagement and satisfaction in the evolving landscape of eHealth services for better health care outcomes.